4 Wednesday, March 3, 1993 OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN IN OUR OPINION Rock Chalk is worthy of a standing ovation For the past seven months hundreds of students have invested tremendous amounts of time and energy into the final creation of this year's Rock Chalk Revue. Tomorrow night, Rock Chalk Revue will open the first of three performances on this, its final weekend. A tradition at the University of Kansas for more than 40 years, Rock Chalk Revue is not only an outstanding night of music and comedy, but a worthwhile philanthropy too. Those students who have invested their time and energy in to the production are to be commended. Those who have not, can still play a vital part in the process — by attending the show. All proceeds from Rock Chalk Revue go to benefit the United Way of Douglas County. In recent years, these proceeds have grown in more ways than one. In addition to increased donations, which last year reached $43,000, a community service program recently has been instituted that helps get students involved in various community service projects throughout Lawrence. The total number of donated hours for this year will not be known until tomorrow night. However, it is expected to be in the range of last year, when more than 10,000 hours were donated. That is a phenomenal figure that the entire University can be proud of. There are not many activities at KU that have been around as long, get as many students involved and benefit the community as much as Rock Chalk Revue. For only a couple dollars more than a movie, students can help contribute to its continued success and see an enjoyable musical variety show in the process. JEFF REYNOLDS FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD New federal land prices will help environment For more than a century, the United States has treated publicly owned land in the West as a resource for exploitation rather than conservaresource for exploitation rather than conservation. It has subsidized the commercial development of public land by offering below-market prices to loggers, miners and ranchers. Now President Bill Clinton has come up with a bold new plan that would drastically alter the way these lands are managed. Clinton's proposal would require public land users to pay the market rate to use the land. The plan makes sense both environmentally and economically. For example, the Bureau of Land Management charges ranchers $1.92 to graze a cow and its calf for one month on federal land. The going rate for privately owned land is $9.25. The discounted fees were the primary reason the government's grazing program lost $52 million in 1990. Timber companies receive similar subsidies for logging done on federal land. In 1991, timber programs in 69 of the 120 national forests lost money. Mining companies currently do not pay anything for minerals such as gold and silver that are mined on federal land. Clinton says the plan could save the United States $1 billion over the next five years. The savings would be used for debt reduction and to restore areas that have been damaged environmentally by overuse. That damage is extensive, according to the bureau. A recent report indicated that 83 percent of public land held by the top 20 users is in "unsatisfactory" condition. Congress should end the subsidy for public land use by adopting the fee increase. It will save money and encourage environmental conservation, not exploitation. CHRIS MOESER FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD Practice of affirmative action helps achieve racial equality In a world that is far from fair, it is important to try and attain equality in every instance that presents itself. Affirmative action, the practice of giving one benefits based on something other than qualifications, is one way of doing that. Racism and discrimination are rampant, and being a minority puts one at a distinct disadvantage. Thus there is need for something to be done. Affirmative action is needed, if not for this reason alone, to be instituted on nationwide basis. If there were no discrimination, there would be no reason to hire someone for any reason except for their qualifications. Since there is discrimination, something needs to be done. The theory behind affirmative action is vital to understanding the reason for implementation. If one STAFF COLUMNIST gives ajob or scholarship to a minority, and he or she use it to benefit himself or herself, the aim is that they will take the job or money back to their community. The community, in turn, benefits. This idea, although not always used correctly, is the basis behind the plan. It would be naive to think that this happens all the time, but it is important to know that this is what affirmative action strives for. Eventually, if this practice is put into use there will be no need for it. Each community, in the ideal sense, will be brought up to the level of every other community. Realistically, that day is a long way off, but it is something to work toward. Even though this will probably never be achieved, it is no reason not to try. We always need to be looking to move ahead, and if this means appropriating money or giving a job to someone who is less qualified, so be it. The benefits in the long run will outweigh the hassle of today. Granted, today's business world is much more fair than it ever has been, we still need to realize that it could be better. Racism and hate crimes are increasingly. With this being true, it shows that people still harbor ill will toward minorities, thus it is prudent to allow for some degree of equality. This is the United States, and we are allowed to pursue of happiness. To some this pursuit is blocked by certain prejudices, and in turn affirmative action is needed. This problem can be fixed. Affirmative action is one small way that it can be done. Other steps need to be taken, but this practice is a way of not only allowing for more opportunities, but a possible way to ease racial and ethnic tensions. The next four years are a time when things can start looking up. With more liberal policies toward domestic problems, programs like these have a chance not only to be instituted but given a full opportunity to take effect. Andrew Gliman is a Norman, Okla., sophomore majoring in English. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Kansan excludes same-sex couples in ads for Jaytalk clientele in promotional ads for the network. The Kansan should stop exploiting gays as a financial resource and begin accurately portraying the diversity of its customers in ads for Jaytak. In the meantime, I discourage gays from using the Jaytalk service, which, although it superficially encourages equality and equal opportunity for everyone, ultimately discriminates against them. I would like to draw your attention to what I consider covert forms of bigrythy and discrimination evident in the Kansan's ads for "Jaytalk, KU's Meeting Network." Although Jaytalk accepts listings for "Men Seeking Men" and "Women Seeking Women," same-sex couples, to my knowledge, are not used to advertise the service in the Kansan. This is particularly ironic considering that usually about one-third of the Jaytalk listings is requesting same-sex compani- ship. By not picturing same-sex couples in ads, the Kansan promotes heterosexism by implicitly suggesting that gays are invisible nonentities which, eventually, serves as justification for further discrimination. Moreover, the Kansan's advertising policies smack of bigrythy due to the fact that the newspaper, although it readily accepts service charges from gay customers, refuses to acknowledge this significant aspect of its Randall Griffey Norton graduate student Anti-gay group should not get Page 1 coverage When I opened up the *Kansan* to see what the front page held, I was dismayed. I realize that it is any newspaper's job to write on certain topics whether they are popular or not, but the article on Fred Phelps' Baptist church made me sick to my stomach. Personally, I do not have homosexual tendencies and I cannot imagine what it would be like to be a homosexual. But I do not lash out at them. These Baptists may have a place for their beliefs but not on our front page. I do not think this article earned front page priority. Not only does it upset people even more, this article gives the idea that these Baptists are right and gays are wrong. This is not true. All people have their own feelings toward this issue, but that is all they are, their own feelings. Keep it that way! We need to love and try to understand each other, not lash out to hurt each other. Anne Bristow Leavenworth freshman Saferide would be unnecessary if all were responsible Friday we were informed that the Sateride program needed additional funds that would total $70,000 by end of the year. Are we adults who attend this institution or children who need supervision? How long will we shu personal responsibility for our actions and ask "big brother" government to take care of us? I do not doubt that this program has been good since it has saved a life or prevented someone from a terrible accident. I have no quarrel with those who have used the service in dire circumstances, but I do not doubt that it has been an easy way for many students to shun personal responsibility for their own behavior. Perhaps some of the students do not mind paying extra money each semester in the form of student activity fees for the people who are not old enough to take responsibility for their actions, but personally, I present financing childishness among adults when my own family could use the money for necessities of life. Once we leave this adult institution, I am afraid big brother government won't always be there to cover our irresponsibility. Brian Wagner Lawrence graduate student KANSAN STAFF GREG FARMER Editor YANG LE OSTERBERG Managing editor TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser BILL SKEET, Technology coordinator Editors Aast. Managing ... Justin Knupp News ... Monique Guelain Campus ... David Mitchell Editorial ... Stephen Martino Campus ... RC Truss D sports ... David Mitchell Photo ... Mark Rowlands Featureue ... Lynne McAdobe Graphic ... Dan Schauer Wire ... Tiffany Lashua Hurt Assistant Editors Aasoc. Editorial ... Chris Mooser Aasoc. Campus ... Joe Harder Aast. Campus ... Christopher Laurel Aasoc. Sports ... David Bartbinski Reporters Victor Bode ... Mark Button Jess DeLennean ... David Dursey Matt Doyle ... Dan England Dan Drone ... Mason Shuler Bill Lemons ... Frank McCleary Ted Lyon McCormick ... Brady Prause Jim Resco...Brett Riggs Todd Selfert...Blake Spueng Jay Williams...Ezra Walle Scott Anderson...Copy Chiefs Copy Editors...Shelly Solon Heather Anderson...Aaron Baker J.R. Clashborne...Alinne Estraza Janet Fogle-Fergus...Alain Fugel Kevin Tongg...Katie Greenwald Karon Hadley...Jo Harder Tiffany Laskas-Kunst...Chris Heathrow Noelle Kastens...Christine Laue Allison Lipperflies...Tim Marks Stacy Morford...Maurice Nosew Richie Richell...Corey Shoup Julie Wasson...Jay Williams Andrew Arnone...Jason Audl Kim Buche...Alip Chin Richard Devinkal...Kathy Drescel Douglas House...James Horn Rene Noehder...Paul Kotz Irene Lanier...Rachel Thompson Dave Campbell...Graphics Artist Katherine Mawkerwell Dave Campbell...Andrew Hodges Katherine Mawkerwell Designer...Daniel Nosew Eric Fogarty...Katherine Mawkerwell Derek Noten...Sean Trolet Jule Wasson News Clerk Shannon Kimball STEVE PERRY Business manager MELISSATERLIP Retail sales manager JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser BILL THOMAS Production PAT BOYLE Accounting Business Staff Business Staff Campaign sales mgr Braden Basson Regional Sales mgr Wade Baxter National sales mgr Jennifer Porter Co-op sales mgr Ashley Pearl Production mgr Amy Blumbord Ashley Laughard Angela Cleaver-Cooper Marketing director Angela Cleaver-Cooper Creative director Jackie Perry Ad Direction Dave Hobbitger Classified mgr 80 Tuncy Special Sections Mythine Fuchs Marks Dominik Classified Assistant Laura Grob Zone Managers Jennifer Blowey ... Kim Brown John Carlton ... Amy Casey Jodi Cole ... Retail Account Executives Linda Boodeker ... Tricla Bumpus Kate Burgess ... Ken Cole Jonathan Bradley ... Jennifer Evenson Justin Garberg ... Stephane Greenwood Josh Hahn ... Tamme Johnson Allison Kaplan ... Sue Kratsky Robin Kring ... Jessica Lenard Shely McConnell ... Chuck Morrissey Mike Murray ... Kori Rathour Ed Schröth ... Judith Standley Gretchen Van Hoet Campus Account Executives Rebecca Boresow ... Kristy Enlow Melissa Jonins ... Laura Manka Russel Ilasa Regional Account Executive Nicole Abbett ... Jennifer Lald Cathy McWilliams ... Troy Tawerst Interns Marcel Stueller Intensus Manuel Stauffer