4A
Tuesday, May 3, 1994
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VIEWPOINT
Parking Department is an omnipotent power
For a part of the University that has absolutely nothing to do with education, the Parking Department has become an omnipotent power that has grown beyond its intended purpose.
With a school the size of KU, having a parking department is a necessary evil. However, the power that the department wields is strong and widespread, often with no consideration to common sense.
Parking restrictions are confusing and ambiguous. Some lots are closed until 5 p.m., while other lots are closed until 7:30 p.m. Some lots on campus open at 5 p.m., but only to faculty. The confusing, bureaucratic web of rules and guidelines often are explained only after your vehicle is ticketed.
As an organization that generates its own revenue, the ability to ticket cars becomes an abused power. One example is a lot next to Learned Hall. This lot is open to students at 7:30 p.m., when most students start parking there. But be forewarned not to park there literally a minute too soon. On more than one occasion, a Parking Department employee has ticketed cars after 7:25 p.m. If money is a problem for the department, then cut costs. Don't try to deliberately snag students.
Most students don't realize the size of the department. Last year, parking permits generated $735,000 for the department, while fines totaled $500,000. Parking lot maintenance totaled $64,550,while salaries for the Department totaled $737,679. It is questionable whether a university parking department needs such a large budget.
The Parking Department has grown too large to serve its basic purpose. The University administration needs to scale down this growing tyrant.
RICHARD BOYD FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Sports ticket distribution should be re-evaluated
The Athletic Department should change its policy regarding the all-sports combo package.
As it exists, the package guarantees KU football tickets. However, an accompanying pamphlet lets the purchaser know that because of limited seating, the possibility of a lottery for basketball tickets exists. This situation instigates unnecessary hassle. The problem could be solved easily by simply distributing the tickets on a first-come, first-served basis.
The lottery itself has many negative results. Many disappointed students don't get to enjoy men's basketball games. The department should have a straightforward, simple process that isn't a guessing game.
The exchange policy itself is a burden on the students involved. Once chosen to see the men's games, students continually must look in the Kansan to see when they need to pick up coupons. They then need to find out when to exchange their coupons for tickets. In all, more than 5,000 students make more than four extra trips to Allen Field House to stand in line.
The department should distribute the men's basketball tickets on a first-come, first-served basis. The first students to enroll will be the first to have access to the tickets. No fancy coupons printed up to waste students' money. No long lines to waste students' time.
The Athletic Department should reevaluate the ticket lottery system. The University's primary concern should be the best interest of the students. The procedure in place is time-consuming, tiring and unnecessary. By instituting a much simpler procedure, everyone should benefit.
CARSON ELROD FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
KANSAN STAFF
BEN GROVE. Editor
LISACOSMILLO, Managing editor
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
50
50
50
50
50
50
JUSTIN GARBERG Business manager
BILL SKEET, Systems coordinator
JENNIFER BLOWEY Retail sales manager
Aest Managing Editor ...Dan England
Assistant to the editor...J.R. Clariborne
News ...Kristi Fogler, Katie Greenwald
...Todd Seffert
Editorial ...Colleen McCain
Anthony Ellen
Campus ..Jose DeHaven
Sports ..David Dorey
Photo ..Doug Hesse
Features ..Bane Bennett
Allison Hoppe
Freelance ..Christine Laune
JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser
Business Staff
Campus sales mgr ... Jason Eberly
Regional sales mgr ... Troy Tarwater
Retailaset mgr ... Judith Standley
National & Coop sales mgr ... Robin King
Special Sections mgr ... Shelly McConnell
Production mgrs ... Laura Guth
Gretchen Kooterlehnhitch
Marketing director ... Shannon
Creative director ... John Carton
Classified mgr ... Kelly Connely
Tearteams mgr ... Wing Chen
Letters should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 200 words. They must include the writer's signature, mail address and telephone number. Writers affiliated with the University of Missouri can also use a standard font.
Guest columns should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be photographed.
The Kansas reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansas newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall.
Editor's note: On April 24, KU student Scott McWhorter fell from a window at Corbin-Gertrude Sellars Pearson Hall and died. Below are a guest column by McWherter's girlfriend and letters from his friends.
Personality of student should be remembered for many years
I was Scott McWhorter's girlfriend. Scott symbolized a picture of life to me. He exemplified qualities of those classified throughout history as the highest of achievers. Scott lived as everyone should — accepting the faults of others and understanding the reasons behind people's actions.
He loved a quotation by Michael Alan Carl. The quote has always been a personal inspiration. Scott would go on and on about how important it was for everyone to live by those qualities — the exact qualities Scott possessed. The quote is, "There's something I want to add. It has to do with a certain respect that you have to give other people. You have to give everyone a certain respect that they're doing each thing that they do for the best possible reasons. They're working their things out. Everyone makes mistakes and so forth. You give them that respect that they're doing what they're doing for the good of everyone else."
For me, Scott was one of those ideal people you think that in your wildest dreams you'll never meet. If you knew Scott, or were blessed with his presence, remember his spirit and high morals, and live your life as he did — to the fullest.
Scott had many friends. He surrounded himself with people who shared the same ideals as himself. But they also obtained part of his unique character. Those who knew him understood that he was a model for others because of the respect he showed others.
The most important quality I felt Scott embraced was his ability to make everyone, even the meekest of people, smile and eventually laugh. In fact, friends called him Kool-Aid Kid, after the advertisement with the smiling Kool-Aid pitcher.
Scott was also a charmer. He had an ability to embarrass everyone in a public place but himself. One night, when we were in an extremely packed bar, Scott picked up his leg — which seemed nine feet long. He then began dancing around and playing his leg like it was a guitar.
Practical was another adjective that described Scott. Last month we went on a camping trip at Bloomington Camp Grounds, which is south of Lawrence. After we set up camp, Scott disappeared to get firewood. He was gone for hours; everyone kept asking me where he was. Eventually, he returned with numerous dead trees, literally whole trees, to use for firewood. Our campfire was only about two feet in diameter. We
could have camped for weeks without having to wgvbr about the dark
Today and every day remember the joy, laughter and especially the love that Scott left us. He would have wanted it no other way than for us to remember what he did that made us laugh and smile. So, when you hear his name smile a lot because he will be smiling as well.
When you meet someone like Scott McWhorter, learn from that person. It is not every day you meet people like him.
Please remember not to blame yourself or anyone else when someone like Scott is taken away from you. Tragedy is unexplained, but the beauty of their souls remain forever.
I only ask one thing from the student body: Be tactful in your choice of words on campus and in public out of respect for Scott, his family and others mourning his loss.
Lea Chedik is a Lawrence freshman in business.
Memories of deceased worthy of celebration
LETTERS
Only for certain and special people, death is a celebration of the times and memories of the past. They make us realize that the true friends, like Scott, in life never die
The Scott McWhorter that we know is not dead. He is our brother, our confidant and, most importantly, our friend, Scott McWhorter lives in our hearts and in our thoughts.
He was an exceptional athlete, a wonderful student, and, most importantly, a generous friend.
joy will shower down upon us.
Embrace the love that Scott carries with him in eternal joy.
We all still remember his silver personality, his precious heart and his golden smile.
tertarjoy.
Carter Voekel
Cherish the moments of happiness, the times of love and the golden smile. Be grateful that Scott now lives in a place where his love and
Carter Voeker Dallas freshman
Friend is remembered for motivation, sincerity
Omaha, Neb., sophomore
Scott was caring, loving, funny, incredibly motivated and always sincere. It's hard to believe that someone could be blessed with each of these qualities and still be able to express them all, but that's what made him different. For the way he touched my life, I will always cherish. The memories of him will always rest in my heart. His smile will last forever.
Brian Goeser
McWhorterconsidered an understandingfriend
I didn't really know Scott like one would know a best friend, but that's what he was to me. I could tell him anything, and he would listen. I would have a problem, and he would understand. Scott was just that kind of person. "Everybody's best friend," I liked to say, and it was true. I am blessed to have known and befriended Scott, and I am proud that he was, and still is, a part of my life.
Theron Chaulk Salina freshman
Poem expresses sorrow about loss of companion
Let us pray
Let us pray
Lord we wonder why
Why him
Why so young
Why I go to his room and he is not there
but when I close my eyes all I see is a big smile
Why when we are all together we think we are invincible
we wonder why one minute we have all the answers and the next we have none
Why we were lucky enough to know him
All our questions, all our wonders
Answered with what, Faith
we look to you now asking why but then we ask
All our lives we learn how to make friends
but have we ever been taught how to say Goodbye
I think that is what Scott answered for us
Jason Opie
Wichita freshman
I happened to step outside just in time to see the vanguard of the invasion. Its artillery fire lit up the western skv.
COLUMNIST
Because of the distance, I felt no fear. I watched with fascination as the brilliant light show played across the horizon.
I stood transfixed for a while before I realized just how quickly this force of nature was advancing.
The fearsome fire of lightning intimidated the stars as the heavy black clouds rolled over them, silencing them. Forever? Their piny light was no match for the thundering hordes.
As the star's general, the moon, fell, too, and I began to feel fear. I could hear the cannon shots rolling across the trees now. The power of the terrible force of nature could be felt coursing through the night air.
The temperature dropped, and I felt my heart turn cold. Fear stuck its icy fingers into my brain, digging for primordial fears.
I wanted to flee, run inside where I could neither see, nor hear, nor taste, nor smell, nor feel the awesomeness
of a Kansas thunderstorm.
A cold wind sprang from nowhere, screaming at me to cower, pushing me to hide. It tore at me and stripped away the courage wrapping my soul.
I stood my ground. I had to experience the full onslaught.
I am a man. Children and dumb animals fear thunderstorms, not a fully reasoning man.
This fully reasoning man knew deep in his heart, though, that this unreasoning storm could destroy him without even a flicker of remorse.
The storm swirled directly overhead. Thunder cracked behind lightning shots, emphasizing the destructive potential.
With a swiftness that surprised me, the storm commenced its attack. Cold, hard rain pelted my body, soaking my clothes, numbing my skin.
I surrendered then. The storm had me, I was my prisoner. It could torture me, beat me or even kill me at its will.
The fury of rain, wind and thunder drowned out everything, my thoughts, my feelings, any awareness not tied to the storm.
It chose to let me go and move on. Its scouring attack had not come for me. I wondered if Mother Nature sent her elite unit to claim anyone this evening or if it just was a show of force.
Mother Nature has many units it sends to battle man. Some, like earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes, have their own personal stomping grounds. Others, like famine, plague, disease or drought, can be hurled against any location of the globe at a moment's notice.
Mother Nature has the true power on Earth. She has suffered grave losses, and man has found ways to defend against her deadliest weapons, but
she cannot be defeated. How can you injure an earthquake or kill a tidal wave? Even if we kill her, wipe her from this earth, we will die. Our only hope is to tame her (a thing proven difficult to do), or to treat with her.
A plains thunderstorm is her parade unit, a demonstration of her highly trained military. Few, if any, destructive forces have more beauty or poetry in their essence. Other powerful acts of nature inspire anger and hate, a desire to fight. The aesthetics of a thunderstorm can be appreciated like a rose, without losing that knowledge of nature's power, the thorn.
If you are leaving Kansas, don't forget the lesson of the thunderstorm.
They tell me there are no thunderstorms where I am going. When I sit in my living room in Oregon, watching the rain drip down the window pane, I will miss the spectacle of a spring thunderstorm rolling across the plains, full of arrogance and grace.
I will remember it.
Jacob Arnold is a Wichita Junior in Journalism.
---
1