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OPINION
The University Daily KANSAN
April 5,1984 Page 4
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The University Daily KANSAN
Published since 1889 by students of the University of Kansas
The University Daily Kannan (USPS 450-640) is published at the University of Kansas, 118 Stuffer-Flint Hall, Lawrence, KS; 600-345 for the regular daily school and Monday and Thursday during the summer session, or 600-297 for Sunday, holidays, and final periods. Second class postage is payable by mail or by student subscription are $15 for each month or $3 for $5 after the outside country Student subscriptions are a $3 semester payment through the student activity fee *POSTMASTER*. Send address changes to USPS 450-640.
DOUG CUNNINGHAM
Editor
DON KNOX
Managing Editor
SARA KEMPIN
Editorial Editor
JEFF TAYLOR
Campus Editor
ANDREW HARTLEY
News Editor
PAUL JESS
General Manager and News Adviser
DAVE WANAMAKER Business Manager
CORT GORMAN
Retail Sales Manager
National Sales Manager
JANCE PHILLIPS    DUNCAN CALHOUH
Campus Sales Manager    Classified Manager
JOHN OBERZAN Sales and Marketing Adviser
Shake-up helpful
The recent shake-up of Honduran military forces appears to be a positive development in an area of the world decimated by negative political hyperbole.
Gen. Gustavo Adolfo Alvarez Martinez, chief of the Honduran armed forces, and three other top military commanders were forced to resign Saturday when President Roberto Suazo Cordova accused them of being too involved in civilian politics.
Alvarez was a supporter of hardline Reagan policies in Central America. Under his leadership the Reagan administration was able to militarize Honduras and conduct maneuvers there the past two years involving more than 10,000 U.S. troops.
Suazo was quoted by U.S. State Department spokesman John Hughes as saying that "the military should not meddle in political affairs and . . . politicians should not meddle in military affairs if the democratic process is to be vibrant and respect for civilian rules based on the rule of law is to be maintained."
The decision to exile Alvarez was welcomed by Nicaraguan leaders.
Daniel Ortega, head of the Nicaraguan government's ruling three-man junta, said that, since Alvarez was the principal supporter that the United States had in Honduras, there was hope for the Sandinista government's policy of peaceful dialogue.
Ortega's government has shown its desire for dialogue since U.S. troops invaded Grenada in October. His government's concessions, including a smaller Cuban presence in Nicaragua and elections planned for next year, have, for the most part, gone unanswered.
U. S. hostility has continued in the form of threatening military maneuvers, the latest being codenamed Granadero I and involving 1,000 U.S. troops, and has seemingly turned a deaf ear to a call for negotiations.
We don't think that Reagan's unreasonable policy in Central America will be greatly affected by the Honduran military shake-up, but we can hope.
Stifling accountability
The federal Freedom of Information Act has come under heavy fire during the past three years, and the Reagan administration and conservatives on Capitol Hill have been mostly responsible for lighting the matches.
Denton's proposal, which is backed by the Reagan administration, would exempt from the Freedom of Information Act all records relating to terrorism and counterintelligence. The legislation would prevent "radicals" from using the act to find out if they are being investigated, he says.
The latest proposal to restrict public access to government records — introduced by Sen. Jeremiah Denton, R-Ala. — is a McCarthy-style attempt to scare the American people and to stifle government accountability.
The threat of terrorism is imminent. Denton says, because of four
coming events - the Summer Olympics, the New Orleans World's Fair and the national conventions.
We agree with Sen. Dave Durenberger, R-Minn., who told a Senate subcommittee Tuesday that the Freedom of Information Act must be protected from "foilish bureaucrats who thrive in secrecy and expect the country to do the same."
Durenburger proposes reinstating a "balancing test" for government officials to use when deciding whether to release information that would damage national security.
The Reagan administration has proven to be particularly adept at classifying information. Perhaps the public — and a majority of Congress — can see beyond Denton's feeble attempt to permanently prohibit some government disclosure through scare tactics and hypothetical innuendo.
Interest in safety grows
Bicycles are dusted off as students once again start pedaling around campus.
Spring weather brings many people out of winter hibernation.
The warm temperatures also have students lingering on campus or returning in the evenings to take advantage of the host of activities the University offers, or trying to finish up the semester's work.
But despite the increased number of people around Mount Oread during the warmer months, the campus is still not a safe place to be when darkness comes.
Arguments have long been made in favor of increased lighting, and
But even many more lights located in strategic places would not take care of all of the problems that darkness brings.
action on the matter is long overdue.
Pedestrians are the largest group of people in jeopardy when the day slips away and night creeps onto campus.
Those on foot step from between parked cars or jaywalk to get across the street — they seem to appear out of nowhere before the motorist's eyes.
Better lighting would make the campus safer, but individuals must also take some responsibility for their own safety.
The University Daily Kansan welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be typewritten on one sheet of paper, double-spaced and should not exceed 200 words. They should include the writer's name, address and phone number. If the writer is affiliated with the University, the letter should include his class and home town or institution he attended. The Kansan also includes individuals and groups to submit guest columns. Columns and letters can be mailed or brought to the Kansan office, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit or reject letters and columns.
LETTERS POLICY
Nightmare turns into reality
Wow, talk about nightmares — the other night I had a doozie.
I dreamed I went to bed a sensible progressive-thinking American with a conscience and woke up chairman of the Kansas University Students for Reagan in '84 Committee.
I sensed something was seriously wrong as soon as I stepped out of my morning shower.
I went to the hook on my closet for my flannel shirt, but it wasn't there. Instead I found a neatly hung custom-made silk dress shirt, a Gucci tie and a pair of black pants. A set of inde and gold cuff links from South Korea.
There was a note attached to it dated Nov. 6,
1984, and it was signed, "Daddy."
It said: "I know this shirt is expensive and won't keep you warm, son, but hey — Wall Street just called and my defense portfolio just shot up again. Besides, nobody ever told you political power and success was a sensible thing. Ha Ha. Mom says "Knock em dead," son.
So I got dressed, checked under my bed for communals and had my chauffeur drop me off on the way.
He started reeling off one raid question after another and bombarded me with statements I was sure were just meant to inspire political conversation.
Although it was unseasonably cold, I didn't mind manning my post at the Re-elect Reagan table. It was my duty and honor to serve the president in any capacity, including passing out literature in 35-degree November weather in a custom-made silk shirt.
The only problem was that for the first six hours I couldn't get one person to stop. No one seemed to be concerned about the election because CBS had already projected a big Reagan win.
Then this guy in a flannel shirt with a wild look in his eyes approached the table and started foaming at the mouth and drooling all over a box of "Reagan Cares" buttons.
"I hate Reagan. He's a war monger and his administration is as corrupt as Nixon's," he screamed, pretending to be in a confused state of frustration.
I was forced to respond with my classically quick Reagan-nightmare mentality.
"Of course he's a war monger," I retaliated,
"That's what's keeping this country of ours'
strong. Everyone knows that if El Salvador falls,
Texas is next and then you'll be crying when some
GARY
SMITH
Staff Columnist
communist pops out of your medicine chest and slits your cat's throat.
"Just you wait and see. First we'll finish winning today's mandate, then next week we'll send the boys south to clean up Central America. You'll feel much safer than then you do now."
My assurances of a better life for the lout didn't seem to soak in so I decided to change the subject and asked him how school was going.
His face turned blood red and he blurred in something about graduating and not being caught
in the economic safety net and having no choice other than to immediately join the Army.
"Besides," he screamed, "I might as well join before I'm drafhed."
before II'm dared
I told him he was making a good choice and that I would always admire him for standing up for American freedom and democracy. I pinned a button on his lapel and he ran off just as a cold rain began to fall.
"Kill one of them commies for me." I shouted after him as he headed for the recruiting station, and I ran.
I wasn't quite sure, however, why he was vanking large chunks of his hair.
I began to contemplate my own graduation and the promise of some bang-up fun in the tropics. Just then my chaUTFeur pulled up and delivered a note from Daddy.
It said: "Congratulations, we did it boy. Oh, by the way — note enclosed check for $20,000. Please avoid the rush and enroll in grad school, now. We are going to die in some of the rack injuries. Ha!
At that point I awoke from the squalid dream, damaged but not insane. I didn't check under my bed for subversives, nor was I careful while shaving in front of the mirror.
Little dogs are plague on society
I pulled on my flannel shirt and walked up to school, feeling great that the shirt had been only a dream, but anxious because dreams are often premonitions.
I stopped at the Union for a cup of coffee, opened a latent political Dilly Kansan and read about the late political
They said it would be tough for anyone to beat Reagan in November, and I felt like screaming.
You'll see the owners standing on the porch or the lawn shouting sorority-girl names, pleading for their little dogs to come home.
It's enough to make even the biggest pacifist revert to violence.
"Muffy, here Muffy. Time for din-din."
In fact, I, a most gentle being,
have come close to murder in such
instances. As the sugary voices
reverberate throughout the neigh-
borhood, barbarism awakens within
me, and I dream of dog pie.
Small dogs are despotic, dictatorial and neurotic. In short, they are a pestilence.
How many times has a small dog
Staff Columnist
MICHAEL BECK
run up to you or your friends and frotted,or worse, on a pant leg?
And then the owners, for there are no masters of small dogs, yell with mock surprise, "Oh, Muffy, stop. Please?"
This has happened to me. It has happened to my friends. When will we victims learn to fight back? When will we realize that we cannot let these little, furry monsters dictate our lives?
We never will, I guess.
As long as the bulk of us fail to take violent action against these dogs and their owners, the world will never be safe from this miserable plague.
The owners seem to take pride in keeping these dogs. They need
As long as wimpish people continue to harbor these filthy critters, those of who require peace and tolerance they continue to live in constant frustration.
something to control, psychologists would probably say.
But small-dog owners are deceiving themselves. They are simply slaves to their dogs.
My neighbors, God bless them,
have fallen into this perilous situation.
At all hours of the night, the
dog will incessantly yelp — until he
can get outside to finish killing the grass.
Will society ever fully progress if men and women continue to have
I hear the scurried steps down the stairs to the door. My neighbor waits five minutes, then makes the trek back up.
And the next morning, my neighbor, circles under his eyes, makes the morning jautt down the stairs with his dog to start the day as the previous one ended.
their lives invaded by these devils, these filthy little monsters?
The answer to this question will be no as long as a minority of Americans continue to sacrifice their time and comfort for cute, little dogs.
With all the adverse side effects, the reason for the obsession with these dogs eludes me.
Some people need company, and dogs provide that. Cats, however, are cleaner and they don't attack visitors with a mouthful of saliva and filth.
Some people need protection. But small dogs only act as advance warning devices. Why not set up an alarm? Alarms will detach on the carpet.
Any argument anyone could have for having these little dogs is worthless. Small canines are not a
sign of success. They are symbols of low intelligence.
Small dogs wimper and whine, bellow and shriek. They have no purpose, no reason for living. They add nothing to society; they only take.
Don't construe all this to mean that I hate dogs. Such is not the case. Large dogs are not a mamenace unless they are taught to be so.
The little, nervous dogs, however, are problems despite instruction. It is these frenzied pests that I abhor.
But after this ranting and raving, I can offer a few solutions.
Maybe we should consider genocide. Perhaps we could excommunicate the owners from society. I lie the choice to you. By any means, though, we must put an end to the dog and tyrannical rule of little dogs.
How to speak as Washingtonians do
WASHINGTON — When in Washington, speak as the Washingtonians do.
Here's a list of some of the more interesting Washingtonian expressions — and you thought you were wrong. These are the foreign language requirement!
USS: United States Senate: The Congressional Record, which records in edited version the proceedings on the Senate floor contains the following references to senators: The Senator from Kansas, the senior senator, the junior senator, the distinguished senator from Connecticut, my distinguished colleague from Alaska.
MC: This stands for Member of Congress but is used infrequently. Usually, members of Congress are called congressmen, sometimes representatives, sometimes Mr.'s sometimes things that can't be printed here.
The Hill: This term sometimes confuses non-Washingtonians, but in general terms, it means the legislative branch, also known as Capitol Hill. The Capitol Hill nickname perhaps is derived from so
many congressmen having played King of the Hill.
the floor: This is where the House and the Senate meet to mop up, i.e. vote on legislation. When a congressional staffer is sent to the floor, the reference is not to a wrestling match.
CRS: The Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress performs much of the research legwork for congressmen and their
beings. Now, in the words of a PR man in a government office, "I interface regularly with that office."
Moreover, CRS stocks several reading rooms in congressional office buildings; these rooms contain "lives of people" for information materials and "inidacaps."
The info packs, folders of mimeographed information, cover such topics as abortion, world hunger and how to write a resume.
HOU: Out with the old, in with the new! What used to be called "car-pool lanes" on the Washington metro freeway are now HOU — high occupancy user (four or more riders) — lanes.
VINCE
HESS
Washington
Columnist
First, a commuter will find it difficult to rush during either period, considering the numerous bureaucrats who are going to or from their offices; second, the Washington metro bus and subway system charges rush hour, i.e., higher, rates from 6 to 9:30 in the morning and
Rush hour: Seeingly everything in Washington is bigger; here, rush hour is a contradictory term for two separate periods of the work day.
from 3 to 6:30 in the evening on weekdays.
Interface: Once, people talked or communicated with their fellow
Impact: This word is having an impact not just in the District of Columbia, but it is commonly used and heard in these parts. The impact of this goody usage has indeed been widespread, or, in other words, this usage has impacted much of the communication of the moment.
Touch base with (someone):
We're not talking about George Brett here, but about interfacing with a contact, perhaps to see how a proposal impacts him. A synonym is "bounce (something) off (someone)." That's the phrase preferred by fans of Dr. J.
Gingrichian analysis: An ally of Rep Newt Gingrich on the school-prayer amendment, which Gingrich favors, used this term in referring a question to Newt for his explanation.
**Gruntwork:** The dirty work that a congressional staffer must do, or, in the words of a staffer, "The campaign people want to do 'strategy' but not the gruntwork," such as scheduling the meetings and making calls to the news media to promote that schedule.
Potomac Fever: The tendency to fall in love with this city; the symptoms resemble those of baseball fever and disco fever, except that they impact on the person to a much worse extent.
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