Wednesday, March 17.1993 OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN IN OUR OPINION Women's basketball deserves fan support T tonight, for the first time since 1988, the Kansas women's basketball team will play host to an NCAA tournament game at Allen Field House. NCAA tournament game at Allen Field House. The team deserves a big crowd for its game against California, which tips off at 7:30. The Jayhawks are 21-8 after winning the Big Eight Women's Basketball Tournament with victories against Missouri, No. 10 Colorado and No. 22 Nebraska. The team is hot, winning 10 of its last 11 games. The tournament championship and the team's late-season success earned the Jayhawks an automatic berth in the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship and a No. 24 national ranking. During the regular season, few people attended women's basketball games despite numerous promotions and free admission for students. But now KU fans have a chance to redeem themselves. A big crowd tonight could help the team move into the second round, where it would meet No. 1 Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn. Student tickets are only $3.50.The price is not prohibitive, and the women's basketball team deserves your support. CHRIS RONAN FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD RU 486 can be more than an abortion pill E ever since it was developed in 1980, the drug RU 486 has generated controversy. In the past, it has been touted as a potential anti-cancer agent and more recently as an extremely effective postcoital contraceptive. But it was its use as an abortion pill that prompted the Bush administration to impose a ban on its import in 1989. On his third day in office, President Clinton promised to lift the ban, and the drug is now under consideration by the Food and Drug Administration. RU 486's use as an abortion inducement is not disputed. It is widely used in France, Britain, Sweden and China as a non-surgical method of abortion within the first nine weeks of pregnancy. But its ban was a knee-jerk reaction by the FDA as a result of pressure from anti-abortionists who refuse to look at the pill's other possibilities. For example, researchers now are studying the drug's potential for treating breast cancer, brain tumors and endometriosis, a painful condition in which uterine tissue begins to grow outside the womb. In October, the authoritative New England Journal of Medicine published a study conducted by the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. The study found that the drug would prevent implantation of a fertilized egg in a woman's womb if it was taken within 72 hours of unprotected sexual intercourse. Although anti-abortionists object to this use as another form of abortion, many doctors contend that pregnancy does not begin until implantation is established, and RU 486 has fewer side effects than other postcoital contraceptive methods. Postcoital methods now consist of giving a "morning after pill," which is actually high doses of birth control pills. The drawback is that the patient tends to experience nausea, and if she vomits shortly after taking her pills, additional pills may have to be taken. One reason why there is such a high number of abortions performed in the United States may be because there are not enough effective contraceptive choices. Who knows what other benefits remain to be discovered about RU 486. Opposition to its testing has never been medical or scientific; it is political. Its ban should be lifted as quickly as possible. VAL HUBER FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD Kansans should appreciate many of its world-famous tourist spots Kansas seems to be famous for one thing. Dorothy and the Land of Oz. When people found out that I was going to the University of Kansas, they would unleash the well-worn Toto jokes, titter something about liking wheat fields and then ask, "What is there to do in Kansas? It's flat isn't it?" STAFF COLUMNIST Personally, I can sympathize with Kansas' plight because back home I study at the University of Wales. And Wales, like the Midwest, is considered a bit of a joke. People who have never set foot outside their hometown and whose only exposure to Welsh culture is to listen to a Tom Jones record consider Wales to be full of phlegm-swilling, sheep-loving vokels. Now I agree that there may be more sheep in Wales than there are people, and you need well-lubricated tomsils to get your tongue around the language. I mean how else would you sayw "Lianfairpwlwigynglwgogerych-wyrndroill-Wlantyllioogoch." which incidentally is the name of a place, if you didn't have a pint of phlegm swishing around your mouth. The Welsh have never started a war, never invaded a lesser nation and have given the world music, love and romance. Indeed Wales is a beautiful place. After all, a half million sheep can't be wrong. So it is with some sympathy that I can understand Kansas' predicament. Like Wales, Kansas is secretly a land of opportunity and treasure. It may not have the Eiffel Tower, the Egyptian pyramids or an ancient tomb or two, but it does boast the country's largest prairie dog. Mock not! If you travel along I-70, you begin to discover that Kansas is a regular tourist trap. Admittedly, a huge hound is not the stuff that booming tourism is made of. But before you so flappantly dismiss it, have you seen the nation's largest prairie dog? It may not be up to Leaning-Tower-of-Pisa standards, but then every town has its fair share of quirky, historic buildings. How often do you see a place offering an outrageously large it as its star attraction? Then don't forget the infamous ball of twine, which is supposedly the second largest in the nation, if not the world. And it is right here in the heart of Kansas. Agree that there is only so long you can look at a ball of string. So when you have exhausted that little gem, trip on over to Greensburg to climb down the deepest hand-dug well in the United States. Not only do you have the opportunity to break your neck on the narrow steps, but you also get a free badge for your $1 admission. A 109-foot hole in the ground might not be much to get excited about, but if you couple it with the 1000 pound meteorite that is proudly displayed in the souvenir shop next door, the prospect of visiting Greensburg might be a more tempting option. Loads of people have visited the Statue of Liberty or gazed at the Eiffel Tower. But how many people can boast that they have seen the much-acclaimed stuffed horse in Lawrence that has rave reviews in the "Lets Go U.S.A" tour guides? Although you might ask yourself why you would want to see this, just remember that it's these little things that make life complete. So next time someone mentions Toto and the Munchkins in connection with Kansas, tell them to get a life and inform them of the Midwest's little known tourist attractions. Francesca Gyn-Jones is a Ludow, England,Junior majoring in American studies. Limbaugh's controversy is all showbiz There's still more to be said. That's the conclusion I've come to after reading numerous columns and letters. What it comes down to is Rush Limbaugh needs more press for the simple reason that people need to wise up and realize that this guy is not for real. It's all in the name of entertainment. Ratings are what matter, and Limbaugh's show definitely is a night thing. Limbaugh uses his excellent speaking ability and friendishly clever wit to entertain, and he does this well. This is a late night party made to be serious. Limbaugh would be the first to admit that his show is popular and that it receives high ratings. Furthermore, it's obvious that his aim is to maintain them. To keep these ratings, he entertains, and to entertain, he offends Hey. I’m not knocking the guy, this works, and to some it’s reason enough to watch. Based on empirical evidence, it’s a fact that offensiveness equals high-dollar entertainment. Although it may not be the most conventional form, it is effective. How did Morton Downey Jr. and Andrew "Dice" Clay become notable? By offensiveness of course. People like to hear things that are controversial or see something that might be shocking, thus Limbaugh thrives. But just like these giants of entertainment, Rush Limbaugh's fame also will die out. What separates him from other talk show hosts is his ability to take news and deliver it in an entertaining manner. Because of this it becomes difficult to take him seriously. White speaking of important problems such as homelessness, we see Limbaugh laughing. This desensitizes the public to think that it's not a problem. Part of entertainment and comedy is making painful things seem not so bad. Limbaugh does this, and he does this well, but what we need to realize is this guy is not for real, and it's entertainment and nothing more. The media that disagree with him are "commies," the people who don't sympatize with him are "idots," and we are supposed to take this guy for real? To be taken earnestly, diction is important. By using foolish language, Limbaugh does not aim to inform, but instead to put on a show. Still don't believe me? Watch the camera work on the show. Once Liam baughs into one of his monologues, the camera zooms in, so we can understand that he's about to say something serious. When he finishes, the camera retreats and a joke is told, or a funny video clip is shown. Things like this are done for a purpose. It alters our perception of him and further increases the dramatics of the show, making us think this is real news. This is sensationalism. We know better than to think "A Current Affair" is news. This is no different—it's all in the name of ratings. Entertainment for entertainment's sake is great, but when done with an anterior motive it's difficult to accept with a straight face. People who disagree with Limbaugh politically should not be angry with him, and those who think of him as a guru should think twice. It's all about showiz and nothing more. Andrew Gilman is a Norman, Okla., sophomore majoring in English. KANSAN STAFF GREG FARMER Editor GAYLE OSTERBERG Managing editor TOM EDLEN General manager, news adviser BILL SKEET, Technology coordinator Editors Asst. Managing ... Justin Knupp News ... Monique Gualsin Editorial ... David Mitchell Campus ... Stephen Marloo Sports ... KC Trauer Photo ... David Mitchell Features ... Matt Rowlands Graphics ... Lynne McAdoo Wire ... Tiffany Lasha Hurt Assistant Editors Assoc. Editorial ... Chris Moeser Assoc. Campus ... Jasn Horde Assoc. Campus ... Christine Lasue Assoc. Sports ... Stacy Morford Reporters Vicki Bode ... Mark Button Jess Doftaven ... David Dewey Matt Doyle ... Dan England Ben Grove ... Kaskler Will Law ... Frank McCormick Timmy McCormick ... Brady Praser Jim Reece Brett Riggs Todd Seifert Blake Seymour Jerry Winters Zach Wolfe Scott Anderson Copy Editors Shelly Solon Heather Anderson Heather Anderson Almee Baker J.R. Clarbome Almee Estrada John Paul Fogel Kristi Foger Kevin Furling Katie Greenwald Karon Hadley Joe Harder Tiffan Lushert Chrissiaune Noelle Kastens Christian Lane Allison Lippert Tim Marks Stacy Morford MuneeRasser Nassar Tracy Ritchie Corey Shoup Vince Wardle Andrew Amanne Jason Audl Kim Buche Clint Chin Richard Davinkel Katherine Davis Douglas Hesse Jason Herman Renée Knoeber Paul Kotz Bernice Neumann Rachel Neumann Dave Campbell Andrew Hodges Katherine Mawlett Derek Nagel Erin Fegarty David Naylor Julie Wesson Katharine Manuelle Keaton Teets News Clerk Stephanie Kimball STEVE PERRY Business manager MELISSA TERLIP Retail sales manager JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser BILL THOMAS Production PAT BOYLE Accounting Business Staff Campus sales mgr ... Brad Breon Regional Sales mgr ... Wade Baxter National sales mgr ... Jennifer Perrier Co-op sales mgr ... Ashley Hassell Production mgrs ... Amy Stumbu Ashley Langford Marketing director .. Angela Clovenger Creative director .. 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