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Monday. April 5. 1993
OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
IN OUR OPINION
Affirmative action search was best possible effort
Much criticism has surrounded the search for a new director of the Office of Affirmative Action. Different groups have complained that the diversity of the final candidates does not represent a variety of ethnic minorities. However, it is clear that the search committee sought the most qualified candidates.
The search committee, headed by Jackie McClain, director of Human Resources, included 10 members who represented different ethnic minorities. The committee search included placing advertisements in The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Kansas City Star, and The College and University Administration and Personnel News. In addition, the committee purchased the mailing list from the American Association of Affirmative Action.
The Office of Minority Affairs assists not only ethnic minorities, but also certain religious groups, women, and veterans. Accordingly, each of the five finalists qualifies as an individual who can empathize and understand affirmative action issues.
The five finalists included: one white man who is a Vietnam veteran, one African-American man, one Jewish woman, and two white women.
Furthermore, 24 student groups were invited to a two-hour question and answer session with every finalist. More time was allotted to students to speak with the candidates than any other group or person, with the exception of the search committee. This allowed student leaders to actively participate in the selection process.
From this intensive search, the committee received more than 50 applications. From these, the committee narrowed the field to the five best candidates, in their opinion.
It is impossible to please every group or individual in a decision such as this one. The committee conducted a thorough national search in an effort to hire the best candidate. The committee cannot control who applies nor who meets their minimum requirements. They selected five finalists whom they believed to be the most qualified and who represent varied backgrounds. The committee should not select candidates simply because they represent ethnic minorities. The committee should hire the best individual for the job.
COLLEEN MCCAIN AND STEPHEN MARTINO
FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD.
NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Republican fears of "motor-voter" bill appear false
If poor people went to the polls in greater numbers, would they vote Democratic?
That's what Democrats hope and Republicans fear, absent any compelling evidence.
But GOP paranoia threatens to dilute legislation that could boost voter registration nationwide and help revilize democracy.
as the motor-voter" bill goes to a House-Senate conference committee, the GOP needs to rethink its obstructionism, lest it be taken as a vote of no-confidence in the strength of the party's own appeal.
Eligible voters could also register by mail.
Motor-voter would sensibly require states to permit people over 18 to register to vote when they apply for a driver's license or for disability benefits.
But motor-voter, along with other correctives such as campaign-finance reform, could
brought the franchise and lessen the domination of the electoral process by powerful interest groups.
Enter the GOP monkey wrenches: Fearful that two provisions in particular would benefit the Democrats, Republicans in the Senate mounted a filibuster and won deletion of authorization for voter registration at welfare and unemployment offices.
The Republican concern might seem logical. But numerous studies, including one by a conservative think tank, have found that non-voters tend to mirror voters politically and demographically.
And the GOP had already won a concession that could increase Republican voters; an amendment to allow military at training offices.
As for another GOP worry — that making registration easier nationwide will increase vote fraud — it, too, appears groundless.
The Milwaukee Journal Milwaukee, Wis.
KANSAN STAFF
STEVE PERRY
BILL SKEET, Technology coordinator
Environmentalists need new rhetoric for progress
General manager, news adviser
MELISSA TERLIP
JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser
GREG FARMER
Editor
Some environmentalists naively pretend that if you do not automatically agree with their demands for large scale change, then you must be somehow morally or intellectually suspect. They fail to see that reasonable people could be easily frightened by the unrelenting force of their attacks on growth and consumerism. And they are even less well-served by promoting the belief that business leaders, by definition, are morally corrupt and greedy. Although these viewpoints do marginal harm when preached among the previously converted, they can destroy the credibility of environmentalists among the general public and opinion leaders.
GAYLE OSTERBERG
I can understand how an advanced awareness of our impact on the earth could lead to such an opinion, and she
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Now that Bill and Al are in power, it would be tempting to brush off the opponents of improved environmental policy. But such an arrogant approach to governing can produce fleeting results in the face of a future backlash. Only with new friends and allies can environmentalists expect to get very far in the end. We must recognize that good people have a rational fear of change. We must try harder to persuade, convince and include people, and rely less on attacking and condemning those who disagree with us.
I recently spoke with a biology student who has a broad range of knowledge on the importance of changing the way we treat our world. She complained about the damaging, short-sighted choices our society repeatedly makes. She convincingly described the reasons and evidence for her opinions. Then she confided to me that she did have just one viewpoint that might be considered just a little radical. She would prefer it if human beings disappeared entirely from the scene, since the rest of the earth's creatures would be better off without us.
Steve Chapman is an Overland Park senior maloring in systems and ecology.
insensitive attacks on business and capitalism are another sure loser for environmentalists. The well-being of owners, workers and families are valid concerns that we summarily dismiss at our own peril. It is unlikely that business leaders could have the same purity of purpose as activists on the hiking trail, but this does not make them bad people. Responsible to their shareholders first, the intense competition for sales, profits and share price can be used to turn executives green, but not if we first alienate everyone by imposing sacrifice without first convincing people of the payoff.
JFANNE HINES
Affirmative action strives for natural parity in its goal of representation
Campus sales mgr Brad Brenon
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Software developer Garry Art Director Dave Habler
Andrew Gilman's column on affirmative action (March 3, 1983) was an important statement of support for this legal and social agenda. The essay, however, raises a couple of issues that need clarification since they often lead to misunderstandings about the goals of affirmative action programs.
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anyone, and he can prove it at the ballot box.
TOM EBLEN
has every right to it. But, forgive me, my friend, I think it is one of the most absurd comments I have ever heard. Call me self-centered, but if all the people were gone I would not care much if the earth were a barren rock. I know it is cowardly to wish that all the nature spiritualists out there would keep such feelings under wraps, but I think we need to be a little more constructive here. Just imagine what Joe Six-pack thinks when he hears such a statement on television. He is likely to immediately forget all of the valid reasons that environmental degradation hurts him and his children. With a single comment, his deep suspicion that those wacko environmentalists think he doesn't matter is confirmed. Who can blame him for calling up his favorite conservative entertainer with megaditos? We are kidding ourselves if we do not think it matters what Joe thinks. He has the same right to his opinion as
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
STAFF COLUMNIST
population. For example, if ethnic or racial minorities constitute 15 percent of all Ph.D.s awarded in history between 1985 and 1990, then university history departments hiring Ph.D.s should work for 15 percent minority representation on their faculty. The goal is to create a parity between populations available for jobs (or schoolships, etc.) and hiring (or awards, etc.). This is a critical difference since it means that affirmative action programs are not designated to create an artificial equality but rather to replicate a "natural" or given population mix.
First, affirmative action programs are not designed to give "benefits based on something other than
Angel Kwolek-Folland Assistant Professor of History
qualifications" but to include as important considerations in policy decisions (such as scholarships or hiring) factors in addition to qualifications. Gender, racial, or other categories do not replace qualifications in affirmative action programs.
Second, the goal of affirmative action programs is not "equality" but "parity" — and there's an important difference between these. Equality suggests programs strive for 50/50 representation; that for every person in a designated category there will be a person in a non-designated category. Instead, the goal of parity is representation based on a percentage of a given
STAFF COLUMNIST
Yea for every member of our basketball organization, whether they play ball or not. Yea for the timekeepers and bus drivers and referees. Yea for all the instructors who make learning fun and important to our lives and never get awards for it. Yea for the unseen and unsung.
It's nice when these others can be singled out, because it usually just doesn't happen.
So, I'm taking it on myself to send up a quiet little cheer here. Freel to see a little better.
Cecile Julian is a Leawood senior majoring in journalism.
Unseen heros need thanks for their many contributions
Most students have to work pretty hard to complete a degree. Their glory, well deserved, comes with graduation. Sometimes, even, with special honors. Along the way, though, were lots of people who helped, just by doing their job exceptionally well. Like my GTA friend.
A friend of mine has been nominated for one of the Graduate Teaching Assistant Awards. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, because if anyone deserves to be recognized for their work, he does.
Our everyday lives are full of these quiet ones who never know that we know. For example, how would your family react if you wrote a note or made a phone call just to say, "Thanks for being you?" (By the way, if you're so inclined to do such a crazy thing, don't let the opportunity get away. It might be forgotten later.)
If his own study load and frustrations get to him, as they surely must, he doesn't let it show. He has the kind of attitude and ability that separates adequate from outstanding.
This particular GTA brings a special something to his classes, an interest and enthusiasm wrapped in humor and presented to students with compassion. He's aware it's a tough but required course, the kind that elicits groums from those trying to absorb it all and frustration from those who can't get it on their schedule.
Our entire University is caught up now with button-busting pride in Roy Williams and the basketball team. We know we have the best in the country. They deserve every word of praise, every minute of attention.
I was reminded of this by Dan England's account of the KU band and spirit squad's trip to St. Louis last week. While millions of people across the country were focused on 10 guys trying to control one basketball, others directly connected with the event just did their job. As usual and as expected.
Do so those who won't get any special acknowledgment. Like the ones who write the stories and the ones who take such great photos of the games for those of us who can't go. Like the people who take care of equipment and schedules, and make sure everything gets where it's going at the right time and place.
Sometimes people like this are rewarded. Often, they're not. They just do their job.
I'm not saying anything new. We all know these things. It's just that sometimes we need to be reminded about behind-the-scenes people who help and support others in their quest for success. In the glare of the spotlight, it's easy to overlook all their efforts.
Thanks...We needed you.
1906 FM
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