4
Friday, February 19, 1993
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
IN OUR OPINION
Media needs to take extra caution in L.A.
Ten months ago, as the skies of Los Angeles filled with the smoke of a burning city torn by racial animosity and pent-up rage, few people could predict that the nation again would be at the threshold of another potentially divisive spring.
Jury selection continues in the federal civil rights trial of the officers accused of beating Rodney King, and the trial of the young African-American men accused of beating truck driver Reginald Denny is set to start in a number of weeks. The greatest fear looming in the minds of most Americans, and especially those in Los Angeles, is a split verdict — a second "not guilty" for the white officers and a "guilty" for the African-American men on trial.
Those fears do not seem unrealistic as the burden of proving malice in a civil rights trial is far greater than the task set before prosecutors last Anril.
Unfortunately, some members of the media see this situation as another opportunity for ratings-boosting live footage and Pulitzer-winning photo packages the minute both verdicts have been rendered. Several news casts have come just short of declaring the irreversible fate of a riot twice the size of last year's if the officers are acquitted again and Denny's assailants are sent to prison.
Unfortunately for the citizens of Los Angeles and other cities across the United States where race relations are hostile, this is not just a news story. The press must use caution in dealing with this exploitable situation because, while the press does not necessarily dictate public opinion, it does influence what the public thinks about. And predicting another riot for a city that is still rebuilding from the last one makes that fate all too plausible.
JEFF HAYS FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
A UNIVERSITY RESPONSE
Vice chancellor praises Jerry's work as law dean
Editor's note: David Shulenburger, acting vice chancellor for academic affairs, issued this statement yesterday in response to yesterday's Kansas editorial that called for the resignation of Robert Jerry, dean of law.
Dean Robert Jerry of the KU School of Law has my full support. He has courageously led the School of Law in a most difficult period. He has acted decisively to correct the problems he has found.
Due to his efforts, a solution to the school's chronic underfunding — the law fee — is not under consideration by the Legislature
At great personal cost, he has recommended a law professor be dismissed for inappropriate behavior involving students.
He is an asset to this university and serves it well. I applaud his work as dean.
Brenda and Kelly show talent off-screen as well
How would you change the world to make it a better place?
I posed this question to several people, ages 19-25, recently. I was trying find out what issues people in this age group thought were most important.
Most of the answers I got were along the lines of what I expected: feed the hungry, end wars, stop pollution, unify the global community.
But no one I asked said that cotton candy machines on every corner were the best.
Nope, that answer came from Jenny Garth, better known as Kelly on "Beverly Hills. 90210."
It seems that after careful thought and consideration, Garth has found the panacea for the world's ills. And she is as realistic as the show she stars in.
STAFF COLUMNIST
I think people need to remember that the show is just that — a show. God help us if we had to live in the same world with characters from television shows. Imagine having the Bundys of "Married With Children" as
Big difference
A student at the real Beverly Hills High recently explained that the show is not representative of real life in Beverly Hills. On the show, the real-life student explains, all the students drive Porsches and BMWs. In the real Beverly Hills, all the students drive Porsches and Jeepers.
your next door neighbors.
But sometimes it seems that the people who have the most trouble remembering that these shows are just shows are the shows' stars.
Take, for example, Shannen Doherty, who plays the nosy, hasty, bossy, bitchy Brenda on "90210." According to one article I recently read about these dips, Doherty was extremely upset when her character had sex after the prom. It was a terrible example to set for the millions of impressionable girls who watch the show, she claimed. It could cause a national catastrophe. (OK, she didn't actually say this, but that was the impression she gave)
Doherty seemed to think it was her job as an actress (and I use that term loosely) to be a positive role model. He was also a masses who look to her for guidance.
Surely, I thought. she is overestimat
ing her role as an adviser. How many people could really want Doherty's advice? Another article told me: thousands. Yes, it seems that thousands of teenagers write to Doherty every week seeking friendship, understanding and advice. Scary thought.
Now, let's keep in mind that these people are writing to Doherty, not Brenda. It seems they can differentiate between fact and fiction. And it seems they are addressing their thoughts to Doherty.
So if Doherty is so concerned with not misleading the teenage U.S. public, she should apply that concern to her private life as well, right?
Well, the last article I read about Doherty said she is being sued because she bounced $36,000 in checks. The girl makes $12,000 an episode, and she's $36,000 in the hole. What kind of an example is that?
Unfortunately for Doherty, her creditors are not the only ones that don't like her. In fact, there is an entire newsletter devoted to her character. Bookstores have a hard time keeping the Brenda-hate rag on the shelves it sells so quickly.
Now if we could just get people to wise up and hate the whole damned shunted man
Julie Wasson is a Springfield, Mo., senior majoring in political science and journalism.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Law faculty blasts editorial, offers support for Jerry
We write to protest your insensitive and uninformed editorial calling for the resignation of our dean, Robert Jerry. Bob Jerry is a man of utmost integrity and good will. He is hardworking and thoughtful. He has always done what he thought was right, often at considerable cost to himself.
The problems that have faced the law school during his deanship are not of his making. Underfunding in the law school is chronic and serious. We are fortunate that it has not yet affected the high quality of teaching and scholarship that takes place at the KU law school. Bob Jerry, through his innovative fee proposal,
has taken steps to ensure that the high quality the people of Kansas have come to expect will continue. Contrary to the implication in your editorial, there has been no outcry of protest from our students about the fee proposal. Indeed, their general response has been that if it will help the school, they are for it. No doubt there are some critics among the students, but they appear to be few and far between.
Allegations of sexual harassment did not come to light until after Bob Jerry assumed the deanship, though some of the stories being told concern events that allegedly occurred before he became dean. From our vantage point, Bob has attempted to deal with the allegations in a way that protects both the accused and the accusers. That is not an easy line toote, and there are bound to be critics on both sides. You need to
remember that nothing can be done about sexual harassment unless the victims have the courage to come forward with complaints, and administrators (including the dean) have the courage to respond vigorously to those complaints they find credible.
Everyone regrets the leak of the memo that discussed funding problems at KU and incidentally compared the KU law school to Washburn. But few people know how hard Bob worked in the wake of the leak to make amends. Among other things, he went to Washburn on the Monday after the leak and talked to students there. Few people would have had such courage. You call for Bob Jerry's resignation, but the vast majority of faculty at this law school take issue with you. Bob is creative and energetic, and he has some excellent ideas for the future of this
school. If he leaves the deanship here, it will likely be to take a position as dean at a more prestigious school. That school will be the fortunate beneficiary of Bob's ideas and his energy. It would be our loss.
■ Martin Dickinson
Schroeder professor of law
■ Ellen E. Sward
Edwin W. Hecker
Professor of law
■ Richard Levy
Professor of law
■ Robert C. Casad
Professor of law
■ Elinor P. Schroeder
Professor of law
■ Sidney A. Shapiro
Rounds professor of law
■ William H. Lawrence
Wagstaff professor of law
Dennis Prater
Professor of law
Kim Dayton
Professor of law
Sandra Craig McKenzie
Professor of law
Phillip E. DeLaTorre
Professor of law
Philip C. Kissam
Professor of law
John Peck
Professor of law
Christine Arguello
Associate professor of law
Tom Stacy
Associate professor of law
John W. Head
Associate professor of law
Reginald Robinson
Associate professor of law
Peter C. Schanck
Director of the law library
STAFF COLUMNIST
Unsafe sex is bad idea from any point of view
He didn't know her name. But now people across the United States do.
A sober young man named Sean McDonald asked a sober young woman named Kristen Tice to dance one recent Friday night in a Tallahassee, Fla., nightclub. One thing led to another; the police came and the two 20-year-olds who did not know each other were charged with disorderly conduct. Not because they were drinking, fighting or causing trouble. They were having sexual intercourse on the dance floor in front of about 100 people.
Maybe no one would have noticed except they had their pants down around their ankles.
The Associated Press carried that charming little human interest story nationwide. The report said that the police officers had to grab the man by the arm and spin him around to "disengage" them because the pair was oblivious to their surroundings. No kidding.
Nowhere was it mentioned that they used any birth control or a condom for protection from disease. That detail may have been omitted, but I doubt it.
Chalk one up for love and spon tainey. Sex at its best. Right?
2017 09 26
How about chalk one up for stupidity?
These people were not stupid for having sex. They were stupid for not protecting themselves.
These idiots put their lives on the line and only got a court date. One of them could have been HIV positive. Now maybe they both are.
OK, maybe one of them just had herpes or gonorrhea or chlamydia, and now they both do.
So they both fit the stereotype of the sexually promiscuous person who will have sex anywhere with anyone. At least we will assume by the incident that they are. These are the people who get AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases. Wrong.
Everyone can get AIDS whether they have sex in public or not. But having sex with someone you don't know probably helps.
This pair shouldn't have thought about using a condom because they were having sex in a public place. They shouldn't have thought about it just because they were having sex with someone they didn't know. They should have thought about it because it's a reality that even people who are dating have to consider.
Safe sex is not some politically correct idea to restrict people's freedom. It's a measure to protect people from unwanted pregnancy, death and disease.
This story was shocking because of its oddity. It gave the message that "dirty dancing" taken too far is illegal. And it proved how many people don't take AIDS seriously.
Maybe these people thought the charges were a small sacrifice for pleasure, but was risking their lives and health worth it? Even if it was the best few minutes of their lives?
Well, there's hope. Maybe they don't have any diseases. Maybe they're parents.
Shelly Solon is a Wheeling, III., senior major in Journalism.
KANSAN STAFF
GREG FARMER
Editor
GAYLE OSTERBERG Managing editor
TOM LEBENHAM
General manager, news adviser
Managing editor
BILL SKEET, Technology coordinator
General manager, news adviser
Asst Managing ... Justin Krupp
News ... Monique Guilain
Editorial ... David Mitchell
Editorial ... Stephen Martino
Campus ... KC Trauner
Buffalo ... David Mitchell
Photo ... Mark Rivallon
Features ... Lynne McAdobe
Graphics ... Dan Schauer
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Mystery Strip
by David Rosenfield