4 --- tuesday, March 9, 1993 OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN IN OUR OPINION Free,plentiful parking is right of every resident As residents of the Oread neighborhood know, parking anywhere near the KU campus is a car owner's nightmare. Residents of this area are often forced to park several blocks from their homes because the cars of KU students line the streets near campus. To rectify this problem, the Oread Neighborhood Association has drafted an ordinance which would allow only residents with neighborhood parking permits to park in the area enclosed by 9th, 14th, Mississippi and Tennessee streets. Under the terms of the ordinance, residents could purchase parking permits for $20, and only vehicles displaying permits could park legally in the area. However, only two permits per living unit could be purchased. While the basic premise of the proposed ordinance is logical, two of the draft's stipulations are flawed. Forcing residents to pay to park in front of their own homes is ludicrous. Only residents should be allowed to park in the area, but they should be issued permits at no charge. The rent and mortgages tenants and homeowners pay should entitle them to park in front of their homes without incurring additional costs. Secondly, issuing only two permits to each living unit is unfair. Every resident should have the right to park in front of his or her home. If three or more car owners live together, they would be forced to determine who is more deserving of a parking permit. Anyone who resides in the Oread neighborhood should be able to park in the area and receive a permit. The greatest opposition to the ordinance will come from scholarship hall residents and other students who are forced to park in the area because of the limited parking available on campus. Though it is unfortunate that these students are faced with a shortage of parking, Lawrence residents should not have to suffer the repercussions of KU's parking shortage. The responsibility of providing students with adequate parking belongs to the University, not the city of Lawrence. Accordingly, the association is justified in preventing students from monopolizing residents' parking. The association's proposal to restrict parking to residents is a logical solution to the area's parking dilemma. However, the proposed ordinance should be revised so that all residents could obtain parking permits at no charge. Residents of the Oread neighborhood should have the right to park in front of their homes at no cost, just as residents of other Lawrence neighborhoods have this right. Passing a parking ordinance would at least give residents a fighting chance to park their cars in front of their homes. COLLEEN McCAIN FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD Kansan editorial board: Kris Belden, Greg Farmer, Vered Hankin, Jeff Hays, Val Huber, Kyle Kickhaefer, Stephen Martino, Jolinda Mathews, Colleen McCain, Chris Moeser, Simon Naldoza, David Olson, Jeff Reynolds, Chris Ronan, and Michael Taylor. Kansan cartoonists: Michael Irwin, Michael Paul, David Rosenfield, Moses Smith, and Rob Tapley. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Handgun control would only begin erosion of rights I find the editorial of March 2 written by Colleen McCain to be shocking. I am amazed that a journalist would use the phrase "...waiting a mere week... " in reference to a Constitutional right concerning the right to keep and bear arms. A mere week, Ms. McCain? Do you actually think that a U.S. citizen should have to wait for the protection given unto them by the Constitution? Any sort of waiting period sets a dangerous precedent that must not be allowed. If we tolerate the loss of the Second Amendment, we surely see that it will not be long before our other freedoms erode. Can McCain envision a future in which the government's decision on who is "mentally unstable" determines who has or does not have civil rights? Jeffrey A. Lindsey Lawrence senior I feel for the victims of illegal handgun use as does every other caring person. These victims will not be served by the Brady Bill, however, and it will not stop the epidemic of crime that embraces our culture. The Brady Bill is a reactionary, totalitarian piece of ill-conceived legislation that will not help but will most assuredly hurt. I believe it should be abandoned. of Washburn can refute the appraisal and present their version of the truth. But if, instead, they use their legislative power to strike at KU's funding, it is clearly academic reprisal. A university should not accept reprisal. On that point alone, instead of calling for the dean's removal, all should stand behind him. The February 18 Kansan editorial, calling for the removal of the Dean of Law, Robert Jerry, argued that his appraisal of the inferiority of Washburn law school as compared to KU's would have adverse effect on KU's funding because it would offend those state legislators who are alumn of Washburn law school. KU should back Robert Jerry not criticize him "us did materialize, it raises serious concerns on freedom of expression within a community of scholars, and the reality of academic reprisal. Legislators who are affected or offended by the appraisal as alumni A scholar to scholars must be able to tell a truth, as he sees it, without mincing words, and the law dean did just that. T. S. David Lawrence graduate student Hoops are why we came here not academics Poor, poor Mark Button. He can't seem to find any place to play basketball. We sympathize with Mark. When we picked our grade schools, we made sure there were plenty of walls for dodge ball. Then came high school and you can bet we made sure there was an indoor heated pool. But when it came to choose our college, we looked back and realized that it wasn't the walls or the pool that made the school, it was the basketball courts! Yes, we know what you're thinking and you're right. Libraries, classroom space and even teacher salaries are important. But they can't help you when you really need to play a full court pick-up game. Robert Calvin Keaton Lawrence senior Ann Marie Andres Prairie Village junior like a rape victim" because she was a character in a movie, following a other movie woman who say "no" but mean "yes, yes, yes!" The scene "needs to be considered within its context," says Doyle. Fine. Dafoe's character, angry at his client for calling his wife, retaliates with rape. But the real context of this scene is a society in which it is a typical portrayal of female sexuality. Author of letter misinterpreted Madonna movie In her letter on the film, "Body of Evidence," Wendy Doyle takes great liberty with the facts. Willem Dafoe's character was not a victim of rape. He was aware of his client's sexual tastes, and although the candle treatment was clearly painful, he did not object. Further, Doyle's assumption that "all men enjoy pain and force in sex" is hardly common in popular culture. Madonna's character, on the other hand, is shown struggling quite determinedly—if briefly, before giving herself up to "escaty. This is typical movie fare. Madonna "didn't react If in doubt about a partner's consent, the movies say, assume yes. Why not assume no? Everyone has the right to say "no" regardless of their sex or sexual history. (This is not a concept most people with a "feminist bias" find "difficult.") So, Ms. Doyle, which part of "no" don't you understand? Heather Devlin Lawrence junior Reader thinks journalists lack responsibility Will Lewis' article regarding African-American History Month and KU's African-American Greek system typifies the complete lack of journalistic responsibility on the part of the Kansan and of the media in general. Lewis quotes Samuel Adams, associate professor of journalism, as saying, "It would be stupid to close down a Black organization simply because another organization says we are now desegregating. Desegregation is not integration." Why is it that such imbecile statements pass for truth, unquestioned by Lewis and most of the media? The American Heritage Dictionary defines integration as 1. a. An act of the process of integrating. b. The state of becoming integrated; c. Desegregation. This statement by Adams, someone who is supposed to teach journalistic integrity to the media of tomorrow, demonstrates the twisting of truths into politically correct, "enlightened" lies. I'm quite sure that both Adams and the author of the article will dismiss this as a rare instance of semantic error. This could not be further illustrated. Everyone two-year-old to president knows that when you get caught in one lie, your easiest escape is to cover yourself with another half-truth. Don Fritschle Lenexa senior STAFF COLUMNIST Columnist cannot grasp hearing HIV test results What a staggering blow of fear it must be: the HIV test is positive. Is that how someone is told? Is that what a doctor says? Does a written report break the news like that, or does it just contain the dreaded, one-word result? I can't even imagine the feelings that come with learning such a thing. But they surely were terrible as the mind screams "Not" in denail. At present, Watkins Memorial Health Center offers the option of an online course of testing. People can whether they have the virus without anyone else knowing anything about them. The teste simply gives a fictitious name when tested and picks up results from the same identification. It takes about a week to get an appointment at Watkins, where an average of eight state-funded anonymous HIV tests are conducted each week. It takes about two weeks to get results back from a state laboratory What goes through someone's mind as those two weeks grow into a lifetime? How on earth does a person continue to function in an everyday world where class lectures and gossip small talk exist? I just can't imagine. a confidential HIV tests also are given at Watkins. The difference between these and anonymous tests is that a person's real name is used and the results are available in four days. There's someone standing by when those results, good or bad, are made known to the testee. At this moment of truth, a professional person is there to offer support, advice and maybe even to bear the brunt of the initial response of grief and anger. A bill proposed by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment seeks to put an end July 1 to anonymous HIV testing at Watkins. I think that's a good idea. Not ending the tests—confidential testing will continue to be available—but discontinuing the anonymous type. For without an identifying name, any kind of personal contact is impossible. No one but the person holding the news would know. That's probably the very reason people choose anonymity. It's also the very reason they shouldn't. A secret so awful begs to be hidden, buried so deeply and thoroughly, that maybe it will just go away. But now, we'll figure out later who to tell and when and how. But not now. God, not now. How indeed, if the results are positive, do you tell a loved one? A professional health care worker knows how and can give that advice because, sadly, the situation isn't unique. Since HIV testing began at Watkins in 1986, there have been several occasions to exercise the skill of breaking bad news gently. When this happens, impartial advice is needed. Everyone understands the value of privacy, and no medical records can be released without the owner's signature. So this isn't a problem. What matters is that, regardless of how it happened, people with HIV didn't get it by themselves. And it's heartbreaking to think anyone would carry around that terrifying knowledge by themselves because they couldn't trust anyone else. Especially since there's plenty of time ahead for what they'll eventually have to do alone. Cecile Julian is a Leawood senior majoring in Journalism. KANSAN STAFF GREG FARMER Editor GAYLE OSTERBERG Managing editor TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser PHIL SEET. Technology coordinator Editors Asst Managing ... Justin Knapp News ... Monique Gualsain David Mitchell Editorial ... Stephen Martino Campus ... KC Trauner Sports ... David Mitchell Photo ... Mark Rowland Fashion ... Lynne McAdoy Graphics ... Dan Shawer STEVE PERRY Business manager MELISSA TERLIP Retail sales manager JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser Business Staff Business start Campus sales mgr Brad Brun Regional sales mgr Wade Baxter National sales mgr Jennifer Perrier Co-op sales mgr Amy Hessel Production mgrs Amy Stumbo Marketing director Larry Landau Honey Payroll Creative director Jill Torney Classified mgr Dave Hebig **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 Kaiser must include class and homeetown, or faculty or staff position.** **Guest columns should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be photographed.** The writer reserves the right to reedit or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kaiser newsroom, 111 Stauffer Fint Hall. Mystery Strip by David Rosenfield