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Friday, April 9, 1993
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
IN OUR OPINION
Congressional reform falls short of promises
As with every election, last November brought forth a bevy of promises. Congressional reform was uttered by many now-freshmen Congress
A was uttered by many now-freshmen Congress members. But after Election Day, little more was said or done until last week when the freshman class of House Democrats issued its reform package.
The package, originally a plan to toughen campaign finance laws, curtail lobbyists and trim the pork and perks plaguing Congress, can be best described as underwhelming.
The freshmen are not completely to blame. House leaders lobbied hard to minimize the damage. In the world of deals, a new Congress member could easily jeopardize what little power he wields if he goes against members such as House Speaker Tom Foley, D. — Wash., too often.
As the package stands, the freshmen called for a 25 percent cut in the legislative budget over five years and proposed a long list of restrictions on lobbyists and fund raising. But many other bold ideas disappeared during the three months it took the committee to complete its package.
A few ideas that were dropped were a proposal to link Congressional pay increases to deficit cuts, term limits on committee chairmen, the abolition of free parking at Washington National Airport and a $50 limit on gifts that members can receive each year.
VAL HUBER FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
If true reform is to occur in Congress, it must be supported by leaders of both parties and in both houses. Unfortunately, the farther we are from an election, the less concerned members are about reform and the more concerned they become about their own pork and perks.
National health care reform could be jeopardized
NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Here's something else for Bill Clinton's health care task force to chew on: The cost of the Medicaid health care program for the poor rose by an astonishing 25 percent last year.
According to the federal statistics, Medicaid spending went from $94 billion in fiscal year 1901 to $118 billion in the last fiscal year.
This is a worrisome development for Clinton's health care reformers. Medicaid costs are widening the federal budget deficit as the president searches for ways to reduce it. And he's trying to figure out how to pay for an overhaul of the health care system, which would increase access to medical care much as Medicaid has expanded access in recent years to include millions of new clients.
Over the last five years, Medicaid has provided incentives for all parts of the health care constituency — patients, doctors, hospitals, state governments — to use it freely at public expense. But clearly this open access comes at a cost, and cost is the dragon Clinton's medical crusaders will have to slay to achieve reform.
The Greenville News
Greenville, S.C.
Espy deserves congratulations for new policies
Thanks to Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy, his department may finally modernize the nation's meat and poultry inspection program.
Espy, who has been in office only a few weeks, has seen fit to do what several of his predecessors were unable or unwilling to do—admit that the visual inspection method currently used to certify wholesomeness is simply incapable of detecting the tiny bacteria which can cause serious illness.
While most meat is, in fact, safe, the infected meat that killed three children and caused an additional 500 illnesses in Seattle is sad proof that the system needs overhauling.
Under previous secretaries and administrations, the department has ignored actual causes of bacterial infection as well as a warning from the National Academy of Sciences that inspection methods were badly in need of modemization.
It will take time, and no doubt will result in far-reaching changes for both producers and consumers of meat and poultry. But Espy's decision to put the health of the nation ahead of narrower interests is commendable and deserves the support of all segments of the industry, as well as the public.
The Advocate Baton Rouge, La.
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STEVE PERRY
GREG FARMER
Editor
GAYLE OSTERBERG
Managing editor
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MELISSA TERLIP
Retail sales manager
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TOM EBLEN
Editors
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Asast Managing ... Justin Knup
News ... Monique Guelain
... David Mitchell
Editorial ... Stephen Martino
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TOP ADMINIR BACKS
FULL COMBAT ROLES
FOR WOMEN IN NAVV.
Students owe it to themselves to learn about Student Senate
I conducted an informal mini-survey during the past week among students. The survey really isn't valid because I didn't keep tabs on numbers. You'll just have to take my word for it that I got more nays than yeas. The poll concerned up-coming Student Senate elections.
Question No. 1: Are you going to vote?
STAFF COLUMNIST
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Question No. 2 (in response to a negative reply): Why not?
Since yes answers were obvious, I won't repeat them. But here are some rationales and responses that accompanied the "no"s.
No. 2: "I don't even know what Student whatever-you-call it does."
No. 1: (with sarcasm) "I'n sure my votes make a difference."
No 3. "Every candidate says they're 'for students,' but when they get in, it's just the same thing all over again. Who's going to say, 'gee.' I don't care about anyone else. I just want to be
big man on campus."?"
No. 4: "I just give them my $25 and they spend it however they want."
No. 6 "The fraternities and sororities have always run college campuses.
That's not gonna change now."
No. 7: "I've been here five years and never voted yet. Why should I start now? I'm outta here."
No. 8. "Naw. I don't have time to mess with that stuff."
ness with that stu-
No. 9: (with a shrug) "Who cares?"
survey, but I think you get the drift. Maybe you are even quoted here. If so, I have some more questions for you Responses won't be recorded any where in your own head.
This is but a small sampling of my
Do you, indeed, know what Student Senate is and what it does?
Do you know how it's organized?
How many members Student Senate has? What the standing committees are? How many Senate boards there are? What any of them do?
When you're not part of the solution...
Be assured, Student Senate will continue to function with or without you. But there's an old saying — and things generally get to be old sayings by being truisms — that applies here:
ate offices are located in the Kansas Union. Staff secretary Laura Bellinger is the woman with all of this inforp, and she's happy to share it with a friend who asks.
Do you know what role KU faculty has in Student Senate? How Senate decisions are made? Approved or rejected? On what subjects?
Do you know what positions and offices are elected? Appointed and by whom? Do you know how you can participate, other than by voting, in Student Senate activities?
Even some of my yes respondents may not know the answers to a lot of these questions. If you're curious enough to find out, the Student Senwere her own business. What are we doing? How dare we give these escorts the freedom to decide what they do with people in their free time who they meet at their job? This obviously should be regulated.
"I don't care" equals deprivation. When someone doesn't care enough to participate in a process, they deprive themselves of a voice and choice. They also absolutely deprive themselves of any right to complain
For the others, those who have no intention of learning or voting, you may not even be aware that your missing out on something. : : :
This letter is in response to Vered Hankin's article regarding the sexist aspects of KU's Crimson Crew.
I found the headline of the article shocking and was dismayed to learn that such actitudes occurred at my university. I was intrigued to see what they might be and my first reaction was pure horror. I read that football recruits receive special treatment. Am I supposed to believe that those recruits aren't choosing KU just because it is an excellent academic institution? (If this were true, however, it would explain the league's faltering athletic success.)
Gecite Julian is a Leawood senior majoring in journalism.
Crimson Crew bias should be experienced by all
I read further to find that this special treatment includes a seat at a football game and an escort — an "attractive escort at that." I never received any escorts to any games when I was looking at KU, and I feel cheated. Fortunately, after seeing a picture of the Crimson Crew, I was relieved that not all of them were attractive. How sexist that would have been!!
GUEST COLUMNIST
Hankin further enlightened me to the fact that if the Crimson Crew encjorten her time with the recruitment that she may use her own time as if it
What other atrocities could I tolerate? I could not believe my eyes. The two men on last year's Crimson Crew did not serve as escorts. If I was a recruit, I would have really enjoyed spending some quality time with another man, just bonding and talking about football (although I might not have appreciated the hours if not days of jeering and tearing I would have
JUSTIN ANDERSON
Not soon after, I learned that some recruits were attending KU because they were attracted to the school not just for the school. Does she mean that things like the surrounding area, the physical structure of the school and perhaps even their looks were influencing people's choice of universities? This too should be regulated. It would be more appropriate if recruits were limited to seeing only campuses. Of course, campus buildings would be forced to be uniform throughout the country (much like China).
I was disgusted, but I continued only to find that a postcard was sent out with pictures of women on it. I found out that this meant KU was using sex to sell itself. I did not see the postcard myself, but if there is some kind of sex going on in the picture I think it should be sent with a warning label. I can't believe anyone, beer companies, car companies, sun-tan lotion companies, etc., would use pictures of women to sell their products.
received after my visit).
Yes, this would take some work, but it would be well worth it to prevent
such degradation and special treatment.
I agree with Hankin that further investigation should take place to see if any of our own NCAA regulations are being broken (i.e. receiving "extra benefits"). We should question the Crimson Crew women, and men, to see if they have given any sexual favors to any recruits in the past, and if so, they should be forced to give those same favors to any other recruit or person interested in the University. Perhaps the NCAA could apply a probation (as they did in 1988-1989 for the basketball team) on the football team or the Crimson Crew.
It is obvious to me that something must be done. I would like to take this time to thank Hankin for bringing these outrageous acts of sexism to my attention. I am writing the NCAA and enclosing her letter, as well as nine. Hankin, you are a beacon of equality and justice in this evil world where people are judged unfairly.
Thanks again, babe!
Justin Anderson is a Los Angeles sophomore major in business.
Mystery Strip
By David Rosenfield