4 Wednesday, September 15, 1993 OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN VIEWPOINT THE ISSUE The University of Kansas women's studies program is having a speak-out on sexual harassment, Oct. 5, 1993, in front of the Kansas Union. THE BACKGROUND The women's studies program is collecting anonymous testimonials concerning experiences with sexual harassment for a speak-out. These testimonials are due by Sept. 20 and will be presented in hopes of educating the KU community of the definitions, extent and effects of sexual harassment. THE OPINION Sexual harassment talks aim to educate The sexual harassment speak-out is a valuable opportunity for members of the University to express their concerns about this dehumanizing crime. With some crimes, it is difficult to detect how many times they occur. Sexual harassment, which includes sexist comments, sexual threats and rape, is one such crime. Until recently, this crime had attained social tolerance, it was so rarely reported or investigated. It is because of education and exposure that sexual harassment is finally being viewed as a crime which subjugates human beings. Recent graffiti displays on campus have targeted such female subjugation. Defacing campus property is an unacceptable and counterproductive method of change, but the graffiti, which includes such pleas as "Stop raping," is a strong indication of the frustration of women today. Sexual harassment is not going to subside until people are educated about its effects on the victims. Anyone with an experience to share, whether male or female, should submit a testimonial for the speak-out. Accounts of sexual harassment such as the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings and the recent dismissal of KU law professor Emil Tonkovich have inundated the media, but the quest for awareness is far from over. Members of the KU community should take steps toward eradicating this crime by either participating in or attending the speak-out. EISHA TIERNEY FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD Support Clinton's plan to reinvent government President Bill Clinton's plan to reinvent government is long overdue and should be implemented as soon as possible. If all goes well, it will not suffer the same fate as Reagan's mid-1980s Grace Commission, which offered recommendations to eliminate more than $400 billion in government waste but was given no power to implement solutions. Vice President Al Gore has suggested changes to three areas of federal government that together could save $108 billion. His main objectives included eliminating 252,000 public-sector jobs, consolidating government agencies, creating biennial federal budgets and empowering agencies by reducing regulations. This initiative should be encouraged, although labor groups and members of Congress who rely on pork-barrel spending will oppose it. Through telephone calls and letters, we can persuade wavering members of Congress to vote appropriately to eliminate waste Less than half of Clinton and Gore's objectives can be achieved through executive orders, so it is imperative that members of Congress stand behind the necessary legislation to reform government and reduce the federal budget deficit. TOM GRELINGER FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD KANSAN STAFF KCTRAUER, Editor KC TRAUER, Editor JOE HARDER, CHRISTINE LAUER Managing editors TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser Editors Assistant to the editor J.R. Clairborne News Stacy Friedman Editorial Territyn McCormick Campus Ben Grove Sports Krietfogi Photo Kip Chin, Ranee Kneeer Features Erra Wolfe Graphics John Paul Fogel BILL SKEET, Systems coordinator I loaded down my tray with not only an entree, but drink, dessert, and salad, mosedey to a table, and sat down to eat and reflect on my E's experience to date. I thought long and hard, properly weighing all the times I'd been treated nicely there, and settled on my opinion of our new cafeteria alternative: This place sucks. Ryan McGee is a Worland, Wyo., sophomore. As she accused us of conspiring to all show up to eat at the same time, I stopped listening and moved to the other cash register. The operator was much more sane and calm, and swiped my card with the same cheer and jollity I had come to expect from the Mrs. E's staff. BARRY CUNY Business manager AMY STUMBO Retail sales manager JEANNE HINES marketing adviser KEEP THOSE BLINDS DOWN... Business Staff Campus sales mgr. Ed Schager Regional sales mgr. Jennifer Perrier National sales mgr. Jennifer Evenson Co-op sales mgr. Blythe Focht Production mgrs. Jennifer Blowey Kate Burgese Marketing director. Shelly Muncey Muncey Funco Classified mgr. Janice Davis Mrs. E's provides time to reflect living space There's no place in the world like the dorms. Not a day goes by that I don't have something to complain about. I don't always choose to complain, mind you. Most of the time, I either have something more important to complain about, or I'm feeling too jovial to be bothered by it. Usually, I try not to say anything for fear it might annoy everyone else as much as it would annoy me if they complained. But last Thursday was bad enough that I'll risk it, for the sake of my mental health if nothing else. I was having a fairly nice day. My favorite class meets on Thursdays, and I had time in the afternoon for a much-deserved nap, so I didn't have much to say to the world — until about 4:45. She also told us that we needed only one entree. No drinks, no napkins, no dessert. Also, we should run at top speed with our single entree to the seating area so as to make room for more people to do the same. A natural disaster was not the reason my room was shaking and rattling and my books were being vibrated off their shelves, it was the stereo down the hall. "The guys down the hall suck," I decided. More accurately, it was the air displaced by the apparently massive speakers, which, had the waves been traveling in water, would My mood took a turn for the worse when I was awakened by an earthquake. I began to curse the earth for waking me but realized how silly I was being, both for cursing the earth and for thinking there was an earthquake in the first place. So I stopped. As I listened more closely to the earthquake, I realized it sounded an awful lot like the Beastie Boys. Letters should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 200 words. They must include the writer's signature, name, address and telephone number. Writers affiliated with the University of Kansas must include class and homework, or faculty or staff position. Guest columns should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be Upon further investigation, I found myself still standing in the dining commons and still surrounded by my peers. I couldn't quite shake the feeling that I was 5 or 6 years old as I listened to the woman telling us we were the cause of the huge lines wrapping seven or eight times around the block because we took too much time deciding what we wanted once we were past the cashiers and in the actual commons. Heyka's column wrong This knowledge reserves the right to respect or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kawasan newsroom, 111 Stuart-Flint Hall. have been classified as tsunami. This brought me back to where I started — deciding whether to blame my woes on an act of God. Finding myself stymied by the question of where to place the blame — God, or man, or those speakers that suck — I decided to leave the whole ugly mess behind me and go to dinner at the new Lenoir D. Ekdahl Dining Commons, a.k.a. E.'s. Normally, this is a very crowded place. Not a problem. I bring a paper or something to read while I stand in line. The people there usually work hard to serve as many people as quickly as possible, and they do it without a trown crossing any of their faces. I was thinking about what a nice contrast this fast, friendly service would make to my neighbors' stereoquake, when I looked up to find myself in the middle of a group of small children in trouble. That was the impression I got, anyway, from the tone of the unsolicited lecture the Guest columns should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be photographed. The text is clearly legible and the instructions are clear. cashier was giving us. I am writing this letter in regards to the column titled "Watkins needs to improve services" written by Tisha Heyka. I felt it was my obligation to respond on behalf of the hard working and dedicated individuals, who work for the benefit of the students body. LETTER TO THE EDITOR about Watkin's services My first question to Ms. Heyka would be: Have you ever had to wait at a doctor's office before other than Watkins before? I also would ask Ms. Heyka if she had called and made an appointment? Watkins does take appointments and they do their best to get you in and out as quickly as possible. This aspect of her amuse seemed trivial to me, so I will not spend much time on this point because Americans have grown accustomed to reading their favorite literary works while in the waiting room. Did I say waiting room? What a concept!! You wait in a room, thus the name waiting room. Some students, like myself rely on Watkins because we are students, and are not covered under health insurance of any kind. For those like myself, Watkins is a welcome relief. I appreciate the staff and all they do to provide the best medical care with the bare minimal of cost to the student. I would also recommend to Ms. Heyka that she stick to creative writing not "destructive writing" as her article was. The most troubling part of her article for me is her misconstrued idea that the doctors at Watkins are not qualified. Ms. Heyka, you do not get your medical license from a Cracker Jack box. Nine of the eleven physicians are University of Kansas graduates. University of Kansas Medical Center was ranked ninth in the nation by "US News and World Report" in Vincent Francis Wildwood, Ill., senior March of 1892. For Ms. Heyka, to suggest that our physicians are not qualified is to do each of them a great disservice. GUEST COLUMNIST WILL LEWIS Male seeks an activist a mother could love I was riding my bike home from campus the other day when a car with a bumper sticker caught my eye. All I could make of it at first was that it had the words "men" and "women" on it. I immediately knew that the car belonged to an intelligent and caring female. So I turned around to see what kind of wisdom this mystery woman was trying to spread. It read, "Women who seek to be equal to men lack ambition." "Wow," I said to myself. "This woman has got it going for her. This is exactly the kind of woman I want to take home to mom. This is the woman for me." I thought about leaving my name and number on the windshield. But that would have been too forward. The last thing I need on my record is a sexual harassment charge. SWM seeks attractive, fun-loving woman. Activist preferred. My alternate plan was to circle the block until she returned to her car. I could only take that for a couple hours and then my legs started cramping up. I ended up chickening out. But I haven't been able to get her out of my mind, so I've been using my time thinking about things we could do on our first date (if I ever meet her). My mom would be so proud. I'll start out by pulling up to her house and giving her a couple of roses. No, too much femininity applied there. How about if I just start things out right by opening the car door for her. No, that was a really dumidea idea she's probably insist on driving. OK, I'll let her drive and open the door for me. I'm getting excited just thinking about this. Gosh, I wonder what we'll talk about. Something interesting I hope, like, how women are so oppressed in this country (thanks to men like myself). Then she'll start getting really upset and convince me that I'm worthless. That'll be good for me. There's nothing wrong with a good character builder. I'm sorry, I'm getting a little ahead of myself here. I've still got to find and meet this goddess. But how? I know. I'll get a bumper sticker that reads, "Male object desiring domineering woman who will show me my place in life." After I convince her that I'm a sensitive guy, she'll probably want to marry me and be the single parent of our children. How delightful it would be waking up to her raspy voice as she sends the kids off to school each morning. "Bye Beyen. Bye little Jessie. I'll be home from work at 5, but you can call your father at home if you need anything. He'd better get that damn laundry done and clean up the kitchen. By the way, have I told you kids that I'm getting sick of him telling me I should let him go out and find a job? I don't deserve this." All right, how much cash will need? Wait. If I tell her I'm buying, she'll probably think I'm looking for a little more than dinner on our first date. Good. No cash—I'm off to a good start. Will Lewis is a Topeka senior majoring in Journalism and Spanish. University of Mars we at U 00M. in search to bring trends of "Generation "How to get a Hip haircut" or "How to jump on X", present First Place a Bowl Firmly on your head. Tupperware © is Flexible it comes in a variety of sizes, So it works well. Now, shave the hair not covered by the Bowl. Hint: Get a Barber with a Sense or Humor. by Joel Francke