4 OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN IN OUR OPINION Clinton vaccination plan would protect children Since 1989, there have been 70,000 measles cases and about 100 deaths as a result of these cases in the United States. A vaccine for measles has been available since the early 1960s. It was thought that measles had been wiped out during the late 1970s. So why is it that in 1993 children are dying of measles and other preventable diseases? The federal government reports that only 40 to 60 percent of preschool age children receive full vaccinations. The numbers drop to around 10 percent in most inner-city neighborhoods. The United States ranks 17th in the world for basic vaccinations behind countries such as Albania, China, Mexico and Poland. How is it that children are not receiving their basic immunizations? The biggest problem behind this crisis is the increase in the cost of recommended shots that a child must receive. A measles-mumps-rubella vaccine cost $2.17 in 1980. That price had risen to $15 in 1992. A full set of shots rose from $23 in 1982 to more than $200 dollars in 1992. Most physicians recommend that children receive 12 individual inoculations by the age of 2. Many parents know little about immunizations and many do not even have a regular family doctor. This means fewer children are being vaccinated. Vaccines are considered the cornerstone of preventive health care. However, during the 1980s the government's support of childhood vaccinations decreased sharply. In addition, more than half of all family medical insurance does not cover immunizations. County health services across the country are being crunched by the increasing cost and demand for immunizations. These costs usually rest on the shoulders of parents who are unable to pay for the basic immunizations. Kenneth J. Bart, director of the National Vaccine Program Office, said, "Under our current system, with limited access to vaccines, immunization has become a privilege. We believe that every child has a right to be vaccinated, just as everybody has a right to clean water." The Clinton administration has proposed a plan to help solve this child health crisis. Clinton wants to see every child immunized courtesy of the U.S. government. His plan involves using current methods of distribution but offering the vaccinations free of charge. Private doctors could charge $5 to $10 for their services but would be unable to charge for the vaccine. The plan is intended to immunize every child in the U.S. The cost of the program is estimated at $300 million to $500 million dollars in addition to the $147 million already spent annually on immunizations by the government. Many feel that this is too much money for the government to spend. However, for every dollar spent on immunizations, $10 is saved in medical costs down the road. National immunization programs are not a new idea. They are "in nearly every country," according to the Children's Defense Fund. In 1955, Congress appropriated $30 million so that every child, without charge, could be vaccinated for polio. Also, a 1986 law required that a plan to immunize the nation's children be developed by the Department of Health and Human Services. The law and the plan were largely ignored by the Reagan administration. Connecticut, Massachusetts and Washington already have universal immunization plans that work. The program that President Clinton proposed should be put into action. A system that would track children for purposes of receiving booster shots should be designed as well. We should stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves — the nation's children. We should solve this problem now before another child dies in this country of a preventable disease. JOLINDA MATTHEWS FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD Will the Real Rush Limbaugh Please Stand Up! "If it wouid PAY better to be LIBERAL next week,I'd join up in a heartbeat!" U.S. society promotes blaming victims instead of criminals Lock your car doors. Don't carry large amounts of cash. Make sure you park in well-lighted areas. Don't walk alone at night. Don't leave your purse in your residence hall room and leave the door unlocked. Those messages must have led to the decrease in crime on the KU campus in the first nine months of 1992. The decrease was attributed to students paying better attention to these safety tips and "taking care of their property," a KU police representative said in an article in the Kansan. Also, students hearing these similar messages in freshman orientation helped It couldn't have been that fewer crimes were attempted. It had to be that people were smart enough not to be victims. STAFF COLUMNIST The solution to ending violence, theft and other assorted criminal acts is teaching those damn people not to be victims. And everyone thought these were difficult societal problems. As long as people restrict their behaviors severely, they can be safe. If people constantly acknowledge that they are unsafe, they will be safe. Women make up the majority of rape victims, and women usually run rape-crisis centers and sponsor rape-prevention programs. It's the victims' responsibility to be safe and not be so careless as to be robbed, mugged or raped. It's even their responsibility to make sure other potential victims like incoming KU students know how to prevent these crimes from happening to them. responsibility not to break the law? Almost every story the Kansan has run on campus crime has included a quote about what people should do to stay safe. Sure, if I leave my car open with my purse in it, I risk having it stolen. The message to lock your doors is effective and smart, but we bombard kids and adults alike with the safety tips as if they are sure-fire ways to prevent crime. Sorry, but isn't it the perpetrator's Don't get me wrong. It makes sense for police to tell people how to be safe because the advice does work. But the fundamental flaw with safety tips goes beyond putting the responsibility on the victims of crimes. What happens when these safety tips don't apply or fall? What good is locking the doors in your residence hall room if your roommate steals your purse? What good is locking your car doors when it's parked in a lot if people break the windows to get inside? What good is walking with people you know at night if they're going to attack you? Does this mean safety tips must include not trusting people you do and don't know? We talk about safety tips if as criminals will stop committing crimes if we take the right precautions. Police are only doing their job, trying to protect people. But we have to keep safety tips in perspective. Crimes will stop when people stop committing them, and police and other agencies have the resources to more effectively enforce the laws. Crime will not stop because we all lock our doors, stay in at night and keep track of our purses and backpacks. I would love to tell people to live as they please and not to worry about who might rob or ransel them. But unfortunately in our society, where crime is a part of our everyday life, we need to act on our own behalf to be safe even if we feel we should not have to. Shelly Solon is a Wheeling, III., senior maloring in journalism. Good fortunes can lead to bad results We recently received "beats" We recently received "beats" — news areas to be covered on a regular basis — in Reporting II class. They were assigned by request, and because I was close to last and because I wanted a certain one so much, I just knew someone would ask for it first. No one did. The police beat, the "cop shop," is mine alone. STAFF COLUMNIST Thankful and a bulb bewitildered by what I considered good fortune, I wondered if, instead, I should be suspicious. Why didn't anyone else ask for that beat? What do they already know that I'm going to find out? I do dumb things often and make a lot of bad decisions through poor judgment, inattention and gullibility. So it's easy to be leery when things go right. For instance, the test I took last week was too easy, the answers came too quicky. I was finished too soon. What did I do wrong? Must have missed something, because I'm always the last one done. I have a knack, an absolute talent, for selecting the wrong service line when there's a choice. Bank windows, grocery check-outs, fast food counters — they see me coming and clog up at once. On the rare occasions when someone goesofs and I get immediate, efficient service, I become almost giddy. It's the same story in traffic. Whether rush hour or middle of the night, it doesn't matter which lane I choose. Someone in front of me thinks the speed limit is 10 mph less than what's posted, they're looking for an address, or they're taking the scenic route to a dental appointment. Whatever, I'm very good at finding these people and getting behind them on the road. Imagine, then, the sheer euphoria when I'm able to get to a destination directly and without frustration, even arriving early. Gives me time to remember what I forgot in my haste and left at home. I'm really wary of reservation-type situations. All the red flags go up: a good table in the restaurant. (Was there a recent outbreak of food poisoning there?); logic theater seats, even though I put off ordering them until the last minute. (Were the critics wrong? Did the star die last week?); and a motel room right by the pool, obviously the best location. (Why was that room available? Does some nut case like to throw water at people coming out?) There are so many things that sneak up on me, I've made a list of "causes for celebration," and reasons not to rejoice: Finding a parking place right in front of the door. (Did someone remove an a parking sign? Am I going to get a ticket?) Getting the last widget in stock. (Are they now obsolete with no replacement parts available?) ■ An executive you're calling answers the phone in person. (What's happened to the secretary? Has the company filed for bankruptcy?) A blind date is wonderfully more than you hoped for (Extreme caution A government worker does not act as though they just ate moldy bread. (They're probably a temporary, not a real employee.) ■ Dinner turns out great when company comes. (Your reputation will precede you, a fatal trap.) Someone, I don't remember who, said, "Be careful what you wish for. You may get it." I agree, this could be bad news sometimes. Even so, I still send in Publisher's Clearing House numbers. I apply for "dream" jobs. I even buy a lottery ticket about once every six months. I've just decided not to worry about it when nice surprises happen. The fact that they occasionally do as enough to keep things interesting. Cecile Julian is a Leawood senior majoring in Journalism. KANSAN STAFF GREG FARMER Editor GAYLE OSTERBERG Managing editor TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser BILL SKEET. Technology coordinator Editors Aust. Managing .. Justin Knopp News .. Monique Guelain David Martinez Editorial .. Stephane Martino Campus .. Stephen Martino Sports .. KC Trauer Photo .. David Mitchell Features .. Lynne McDowall Graphics .. Dan Schauer Wire .. Titian Laisha Hurt Assistant Editors Assoc. Editorial .. Chris Mooseer Assoc. Campus .. Joe Hunter Asst. Campus .. Christine Leu Stacy Morlard Assoc Sports .. David Burkowski Reporters Vichi Bode .. Mark Button Dee Doleassen .. David Dove Matt Driscoll .. Dan England Ben Grove .. Mike MacLean Tamara McCormick .. Brady Prause Jim Reece...Brett Riga Todd Seifert...Blake Spumny Jamie Walters...Kevin Walters Todd Saffert Blake Spurry Jay Williams Erzé Wolfe Copy Chiefs Scott Anderson Shelly Solon Copy Editors Heather Anderson Aaron Baker J.R. Clairbone Almee Estrada John Paul Fogel Ketil Fogel Kevin Partridge Katy Greenwald Karon Hadley Jo Harder Tiffany Lasah Hurt Chris Jenson Noelle Kastens Christian Lassner Allison Ingpert Tim Marks Stacy Morford Munaera Nasser Tracy Ritchie Coory Shoup Julie Wasson Jay Williams Photographers Andrew Arnone Jason Aud Kim Buche Kit Chin Russell Dombroski Kathy Ditcail Douglas Hesse Jasmin Tyman Renee Kneeber Paul Kotz Irene Lanier Rachel Thompson Graphic Artist Dave Campbell Andrew Hodges Katherine Mawlerver Derek Noelson Designer Erin Faggetty Katherine Mawlerver Danek Nolan Sean Tevis Jillie Wasson News Clark STEVE PERRY MELISSATERLIP Retail sales manager JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser BILL THOMAS Production Campus sales mgr ... Brad Breon Regional Sales mgr ... Wade Bacon National sales mgr ... Annabel Hartler Co-op sales mgr ... Ashley Heselman Production mgr ... Amy Stumbo Ashley Lumford Marketing director ... Angela Clevenger Creative director ... Holly Perry Art Director ... Daryl Healey Classified mgr ... Jill Tomery Special Sections ... Bryce Focht Promotions ... Mark Donohue Classified Assistant ... Laura Guth Zone Managere Jennifer Bliley John Marshall Kim Brown John Carlson Amy Cailey Caitlin Cox Retail Account Executives Linda Boedeker ... Tricia Bumpus Kate Burgees ... Ken Cole Jason Eberly ... Jennifer Evenson Justin Garberg ... Stephnee Greenwood Josh Hahn ... Tammie Johnson Allison Kaplan ... Sue Kratky Robin King ... Jessica Lenard Shelley McConnell ... Chris Morlesssey Mike Murray ... Ed Schagner Janet Sears ... Judith Standley Gretchen Van Hoet ... Campus Account Executives Rebecca Boresow...Kristy Enlow Mellissa Jonkne...Laura Manka Russel Hass Regional Account Executive Nicole Abbott...Jennifer Lalded Cathy McWilliams...Troy Tarwater Interns Mandi Stauffer