OPINION
The University Daily KANSAN
April 4,1984 Page 4
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Published since 1889 by students of the University of Kansas
The University Daily KANSAN
The University Daily Kaman (USPS 600-640) is published at the University of Kansas. 118 Staffer-Fint Hall, Lawrence, KA 60045, daily during the regular school year and Monday and Thursday during the summer session, includes holidays, birthdays, and final periods. Second postage paid at Lawrence, KA 60045. Subscriptions by mail are for $15 for six months. Subscription fees for students Subscriptions are a $3 semester paid through the student activity fee. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the following email address: submissions@usps.edu
DOUG CUNNINGHAM
Editor
DON KNOX SARA KEMPIN
Managing Editor Editorial Editor
JEFF TAYLOR Campus Editor
DAVE WANAMAKER Business Manager
ANDREW HARTLEY News Editor
PAUL JESS
CORT GORMAN JILL MICHELL
Retail Sales Manager National Sales Manager
General Manager and News Adviser
JANICE PHILLIPS Campus Sales Manager
DUNCAN CALHOUN Classified Manager
JOHN OBERZAN Sales and Marketing Adviser
Solving problem
If Kansas legislators have a real concern about keeping young people alive, they ought to quit quibbling about the drinking age and start making meaningful changes in alcohol education that will have lasting effects.
The effort to raise the drinking age for 3.2 percent beer has been pushed as a crusade to save not-quite-mature young people who are killed or who kill others because they drink and drive.
a bill that would raise the drinking age from 18 to 19 is awaiting debate in the Senate.
Supporters of the bill continually point out that drinking and driving is the No. 1 killer of young people. Although they say raising the drinking age will not eliminate the problem of alcohol-related traffic deaths, they think it is part of a solution to save a few lives.
Raising the drinking age by a year or two may save a few lives by
reducing the number of young people who can drink and drive, but it is not even partly the answer to a serious problem.
Everyone in our society, regardless of whether they are old enough to drink or drive, must decide when or if drinking and driving can be mixed. Some choose to abstain from drinking and driving, some stay within legal or moral boundaries and some ignore the decision.
Drunk driving is a big killer of people, young and old, because society has posed an age-old dilemma: Driving after drinking a little alcohol is OK, but getting behind the wheel after drinking too much is a serious crime.
Lawmakers will save more lives, from all age groups, if they stop fussing over drinking age and begin to tackle the dilemma between drunk driving and legally accepted levels of drinking.
Making an about-face
Legislators are starting to make up for past mistakes.
Two years ago, the state robbed its universities of badly needed money to make up for a statewide financial crisis.
And now, the Kansas Legislature is finally starting to bring its universities back to where they should be.
With a 7 percent increase in faculty salaries and an 8 percent increase for other operating expenses, legislators are showing their good will.
At the University of Kansas, 18 positions held open because of a bleak financial forecast probably will be filled now. The proposed budget also allots $360,000 for library equipment and books.
"It's more than symbolic; it's real money," one state legislator said. University representatives know that it's real money. And they publicly compliment the state and
cheer the proposed budget through the Legislature.
But before the universities take the money with a bow and a thank you, an evaluation of the effects of the reductions two years ago is in order.
At KU classes in many areas were packed to the limit because teachers left for higher-paying jobs.
At Kansas State University, 80 teaching and other positions were eliminated to save money. Those positions remain open.
The cuts of two years had a severe effect on many university programs. And KU and other university officials cannot let legislators forget the problems legislators' lack of foresight caused.
So while universities heartily thank the state for its generosity, the Legislature should at the same time be reminded that the state's universities have not recovered from the mistakes of years past.
Mellow tones missed
The sultry, mellow tones of soul singer Marvin Gaye have been a part of the American consciousness since his rise to fame in the 1960s with such hits as "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "What's Going On."
Mr. Gaye was shot in the chest and died Sunday on the eve of his 45th birthday. His songs had topped the record charts for 20 of the almost 30 years of his career.
His death is a tragedy for his family and his fans. While reasons for the shooting remain sketchy, police say Gaye was shot by his father during an altercation about mailing an insurance letter.
Marvin Gaye Sr. has been booked for murder and is being held without bail pending arraignment today.
The younger Gaye, who grew up playing the organ in church, received recognition from the music industry last year when he won a Grammy for best male rhythm and blues performance with his torsed 1982 single "Sexual Healing."
According to friends, Gaye was a shy performer. He was first hired by Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records, as a drummer before launching a singing career with his "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" in 1962.
His last completed album, "Midnight Love," also won two 1983 Grammy awards.
Gaye's music will remain soul classics. His death was tragic, but his fans will always have his songs by which to remember him.
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 university. He should also provide the Kansan all-in-one 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
GIVEN A NUMBER MULTIPLIED BY N
An objectivity dilemma
Newsroom policies often have journalists tip-toeing a fine line.
One of these staff guidelines, known as the "conflict of interest" policy, presents a challenge of balance.
The University Daily Kansan's policy, similar to that of most other newspapers, cautions staff members to "be free from any obligation or the appearance of obligation to any interest . . ."
For me, this one phrase has meant paying more attention to the causes
MARGARET
SAFRANEK
I support, to what I read and to the activities I'm involved in.
Staff Columnist
The conflict-of-interest policy does not influence every move I make in my life, but it is something conscious of a great deal of the time.
While the effort may sound nobile, it is less than that an struggle to set aside feelings, attitudes and ideas as a way to shape yourself through my most objective glasses.
Most people involved with the newspaper business find themselves
The policy has challenged me to scrutinize both sides of issues, read things I previously discarded and changed. I would like to allow myself to get caught up in.
I have shared both of those opinions at one time or another, but still have tried to conform to the belief without compromising my beliefs.
Some people would argue that the conflict-of-interest policy is not adhered to closely enough by journalists, while others find the extent to which it is followed ridiculous.
'While objectivity is a goal in the news business, it is, by virtue of the human element involved, impossible to meet in every news story.'
The most distanced reporter may occasionally find himself having a certain point of view about an issue as he begins covering an event or issue.
When sifting through what is to be written in a story, a reporter should not rely on any opinions or attitudes. Instead, a straight record of fact, exactly as something happened — with the who, what, where and so on faithfully included — should be the final product.
Ideally, reporters would have an opinion neither for nor against whatever they are writing about or at least be able to step outside that opinion to cover the story more objectively than if they were directly involved.
And even those who remain neutral rely on some sort of value judgment as they decide what to include and what to leave out of a story, where in the story certain facts are much more important than much else. Information should be included.
facing the same kind of decisions while in pursuit of objective reporting.
But while objectivity is a goal in the news business, it is, by virtue of the human element involved, impossible to meet in every news story.
This has the Republicans in a newsroom wondering whether they should be writing about the Reagan administration, the brother of a baseball player declining a chance to write sports and a politically charged being told that someone else will cover the meeting on El Salvador.
This does not make the story, as written, untrue or inaccurate.
But the reader needs to understand that the news he reads should
be viewed with a subjective eye — by a thinking reader — whether it's in the New York Times or the Kansan.
For no matter how much the reporter has strove for objectivity, the writing has still been done by a thinking, feeling individual who is influenced daily by sights, sounds and events as has any other human being.
The conflict-of-interest policy is one of the newsroom's best efforts to keep journalists on the path to objective reporting.
Thus, if newspaper readers are able to read about places and events and issues and have more of the facts, with less of the coloring, because of a reporter's distance from these things, the policy is worthwhile.
But just as critical is for a newsroom personnel to understand when enough of this distance has been attained, without demanding that reporters and editors totally remove themselves from interaction with the outside world for fear of an appearance of a conflict of interest.
A reporter who retrains from every political or even pseudopolitical event to remain clean of any conflicts could be so out of touch with the political world that her reporting is as skewed as the reporter who becomes actively involved in politics.
The conflict of interest policy should serve as a fine line, with everyone in the newsroom realizing the value of tip-toeing along it cautiously so that journalists do not stray too far to one side or the other.
"Just the facts, Ma'am.
ETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Clarifying article
To the editor:
I protested this film for the reasons outlined in the March 28 article by guest columnist Denitta D. Ascue, an article that I highly recommend everyone read and think about.
I attended the protest of the University Film Society's X-rated film 'Emmanuelle' March 24.
I am writing today to clarify some information pertaining to the protest that the general public would not know by reading David Swafford's coverage of the event in the March 26 Kansan.
In the discussion between Tim DePape, president of the UFS, and the protesters, DePape was not called a rapist by any participant of the protest; he was at no point surrounded by women, and he was never spit on by any participant of the protest.
I realize this information was directly quoted from him and think that he may have felt surrounded by a spot felt on or even felt like a rapist.
After all, studies show that films degrading women in a sexually violent way directly contribute to the increase of rape incidents.
In the same article, Mark Syrveston, Lawrence graduate student and executive secretary of the Kansas Film Society, said, "The actions of the protesters were deplorable. I don't know what happened, dope a great deal to promote films."
In response to Mark, the actions of the protesters were peaceful and nonviolent. They were conducted for reasons of self-defense.
I'll be happy on the day when people who do a lot to promote films do not also promote violence against women.
No woman in this society will be safe from the threat of rape until misogynous ideas such as the ones portrayed in this film are considered unthinkable by all and are eliminated.
Judy Brow Lawrence special student
To the editor:
Controlling ideas
The guest editorial in the March 28 University Daily Kansan raised some questions regarding the danger, definition and censorship of pornography. I would like to respond.
The notion that pornography provokes sexual assault is a debatable point. Therapists have used pornography in treating sexual offenders and have cited its value as a "sublimation and release for pent-up sexual frustrations and desires."
Although many find pornography personally offensive, there is no indisputable evidence that pornography presents a "clear and present danger" to society.
Pornography so defined would also include a wide range of materials, from "snuff" films to Playboy.
and art), which is now protected by the First Amendment.
Pornography is not easy to define, but attempting to equate the term "pornography" with portrays of sexual violence is both simplistic and devious. Defined as "the pre-teen pornography of sexual violence", intended to arouse sexual excitement," pornography would include erotica (electric literature)
Opponents of pornography rarely make such distinctions when discussing the control of it. They favor laws such as the one nearly passed in Minneapolis that would have stamped out with a single blow snuff films, Playboy and everything between these two extremes.
The unholly alliance formed by Moral Majority types and radical feminists in Minnesota could eventually backfire against the women's movement.
Surely, such all-encompassing censorship, based on misguided notions and self-righteous indignation, would have set a dangerous precedent.
Once you begin to control the expression of ideas relating to sexuality, is it so illogical to assume that the next step might be the suppression of ideas relating to abortion, lesbianism or other ideals; are these ideas, too, not anti-family, anti-God, anti-American?
Ray Neale
I agree that most films such as "Emmanuelile" are not worthy of my time and money. However, I think having the right to view such a film, if I so choose, is a more rewarding experience than having and our campus" than was the uply mob scene instigated by Saturday night's protesters.
Lawrence graduate student
Soldier suffers misfortune
Col. Robert K. Brown and two buddies were sitting around the kitchen table making macho talk.
Brown, 51, isn't a full-time colonel. It's a reserve rank. But everybody at his thriving magazine Soldier of Fortune — calls him close.
MIKE
ROYKO
It's directed at professional mercenaries — men who will fight for pay — and those who want to hire
He likes that, of course, because he is a macho guy and puts out one of the most macho magazines in America.
Syndicated Columnist
them. And, indeed, it does carry ads by men who claim to be mercenaries offering their services.
A recent issue included these ads:
"Ex-USAF fighter pilot for hire. Ready for action!" "Qualified personnel for rescue or special assignment missions outside states. Prefer hunting in states." "Merc for hire anywhere. Don't get mad, get even."
But since mercenaries represent only a tiny portion of the reading population, the magazine tries to broaden its appeal to include those who might be called war-fans, weapon-users and Walter Mitty types who enjoy the vicarious thrill of reading about blood and guts.
Col. Brown and his kitchen-table buddies were talking about a flight to El Salvador that Brown was to make the next day. Brown, who was a captain in Vietnam, claims to be trained on an unofficial basis. He says he is making him tougher and more disciplined.
"Deadliest Fighting System!" The feared and formidable Chinese Black Cobra Style of oriental combat. A killing and mutilating art with advanced dynamic meditations
Toughness and ferocity are an important part of the magazine's appeal. Besides the mercenary ads, the magazine carries an amazing assortment of ads for unusual methods of murdering, maiming or terrifying somebody you dislike. A few examples:
"Secrets of the Ninja ... Ninja principles of invisibility, cover entry, escape and evasion, assassination, deception, mind clouding and much more."
As the evening wore on toward midnight, one of Brown's buddies — who writes for the magazine — took out an automatic pistol that he was carrying and showed it to Brown. Naturally, the three are all gun-experts and gun-lovers, and in Colorado, where Brown lives and works, there are virtually no gun laws.
So you can find ads for tiny hand guns, sniper rifles, semi-automatics, machine guns and guns. "Don't want to disturb the neighbors."
Guns are a big part of Brown's magazine, both in stories and ads — maybe the biggest part. They review guns the way some publications review books and movies.
Brown's buddy talked about his pistol, its the trigger action and the other qualities that please gun-lovers. He pulled the trigger. Being a gun expert, he knew it was empty.
Naturally, Brown considers anybody who favors hand-gun controls to be a wimps, a pinko or worse. And his magazine reflects that view. You see, as he noted, the ability to say things such as 'Gun control is being able to hit your target.'
As the magazine has explained many times, there is no problem when guns are used by responsible people who know how to use them safely.
When Brown's buddy, a budy expert, pulled the trigger, there was a loud explosion. He stood for a moment with his mouth open wide. Then he looked at his hand. He saw a hole. He had shot through his hand.
Col. Brown looked down at his leg.
His leg hurt. He saw blood running out of his calf. The bullet, after blowing a hole in the biddy's hand, slid through Col. Brown's leg. The owner of the gun was right — it did pack a wallop.
Brown looked at his bleeding leg. Then he looked at his buddy and said, "You stupid son of a bitch, you had now I can go to El Salvador!"
So they went to the hospital instead.
Oh, well. I'm sure there are people in El Salvador who can teach the troops how to be shot in the leg.