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OPINION
The University Daily
KANSAN
March 1, 1984 Page 4
Published since 1889 by students of the University of Kansas
The University Daily KANSAN
The University Daily Kansas (USPS 600 640) is published at the University of Kansas, 181 Staffer Fint Hall, Lawrence, KS 60045, daily during the regular school year and Monday and Thursday during the summer session. Excused holidays, holidays, and final periods. Seceded class packet paid at LAWRENCE. Kansas K-600. Mail by mail are $15 for students and $20 for adults. Student subscriptions are $13 semester fee through the student activity fee (POSTMASTER) Send address changes to
DOUG CUNNINGHAM
DON KNOX
Managing Editor
SARA KEMPIN
Editorial Editor
JEFF TAYLOR ANDREW HARTLEY
Campus Editor News Editor
DAVE WANAMAKER Business Manager
General Manager and News Adviser
CORR GORMAN JILL MICHIETLE
CERT Sales Manager National Sales Manager
JANCE PHILIPS   DUNCANCALIHOU
Campus Sales Manager   C classified Manager
JOHN OBERZAN Sales and Marketing Adviser
No-fluff question
What topping does one use on a special dessert - whipped cream or non-dairy topping?
To the members of the Kansas Legislature, this is a no-fluff question. The legislators are working on a bill to replace the 1927 Filled Dairy Products Act, which was found unconstitutional last year by the Kansas Supreme Court.
The controversy revolves around milk and dairy substitutes. The 1927 act prohibited the sale of some artificial dairy products.
State agricultural officials think that better labeling is needed on artificial dairy foods. They fear that without such labeling, consumers will be confused.
Once the froth has settled, any reasonable person must come down on the side of correctly labeling all foods. Little harm can be found in knowing exactly what each food contains.
Further, many foods today seem to be designed to look like something else, and this is particularly true in
one case of dairy substitutes. Little packages that talk call themselves "butter." Some toppings look like whipped cream and are designed to taste like it, too.
The problem is not that these alternative products are available. Many people have dietary restrictions that prevent them from eating dairy products. Others prefer, for reasons of taste, cost or convenience, to use dairy substitutes.
Nor is the problem that dairy farmers find themselves in a bind as they watch the federal dairy price support program being eroded.
Indeed, the state's lawmakers must be especially careful not to pass a new dairy products law unless it is needed. If the law is passed solely for the benefit of a noisy interest group, little will be accomplished.
In this case, the Legislature should act to ensure that both real and artificial dairy products are properly labeled, for the benefit of all consumers.
Sidestepping the issue
Improvement is sweeping the land. Many state legislatures across the country are responding to the public's demand for high-quality education.
And, as if in response to such public fervor, Kansas legislators are also trying to improve this state's education. But in trying to cure the ills of education, they sidestep the heart of the matter.
This week, a House committee approved a bill that would deny Kansas high school graduates entry into state supported universities until they have taken certain high school level classes.
By requiring students to take numerous courses in English, math, social studies, the natural sciences and a foreign language, legislators hope to improve the products of higher education.
Perhaps another reason for such a law is that it would allow universities to eliminate remedial programs for students who have not
taken enough of these courses. Thus, universities would have more money for other college level courses.
But one concerned legislator has complained that imposing such requirements on would-be students would reduce university enrollment and income.
Legislators only seem to be attacking the problem indirectly by placing the burden on universities when they should be attacking it directly by imposing further requirements for high school graduation.
Were there proof that such requirements would cure the problems of the state's universities, then perhaps such measures would be reasonable.
But legislators have no such proof and should refrain from passing this unneeded legislation. The problems in education are real, and legislators should take immediate action, but it also should be direct.
Abuses threaten future
The Worldwatch Institute in Washington has taken a look at the "State of the World," and has concluded that some dangerous abuses of resources threaten the future.
"Over the past generation the world has yielded to an excessive dependence on oil, moved from farming soils to mining them, and begun to consume the economy's biological support systems," according to Lester R. Brown, president of the institute and director of the project.
The remedies are familiar. Among them are stabilizing population, reducing the dependence on oil, developing renewable energy resources, conserving soil, protecting the Earth's biological support systems and recycling materials.
the project. "In short, the world economy has moved onto a development path that is unsustainable."
There are notes of encouragement from Worldwatch that give substance to the importance of doing something.
The most singular success has been in reducing the dependence on petroleum, with oil consumption down 14 percent since 1979 — down 19 percent in the United States.
Los Angeles Times
The University Daily Kansas welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be typewritten, double-spaced and should not exceed 300 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 faculty or staff position. The Kansas also invites individual authors to submit paid columns. Columns and letters can be mailed or brought to the Kansan office, 111 Stauffer Fintl Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit or reject letters and columns.
LETTERS POLICY
Lesser-known merit respect
We've had a month to think about the contributions black Americans have made to society.
And as did many other Americans, I reviewed some of the writings of Frederick Douglass, the musical innovations of Charlie Parker and the implications of Booker T. Washington's ideas.
I've also drawn a few conclusions from my investigation. These and many other black Americans were forced to face the reality of distinction in our nation's history.
When I think of the blacks in my history, I think of one man in particular. He was a derelict and probably a chronic alcoholic, but at the same time, he was to me the embodiment of human compassion and sympathy.
And although their lives have touched mine, they have done so indirectly. I did not know these men. Their contributions were many, but they have not affected me as they as have other black Americans.
It's been more than two years since I met him. At the time, I was a transient and vagabond, hitchhiking with my dog, chasing anything for something I yet to find.
It was September in Chicago. And I was at one of the city's many missions, a refuge for wayward souls.
I sat in the chapel, waiting for the church service to begin and end so that I could get some sleep and be on
my way eastward with the morning light.
I gave myself up to a nervous frenzy. I wanted to leave, yet I could not. The boy, who had been raised in sleepy Kansas, was in the midst of one of the worst crime districts in the nation. Poverty and violence abounded, and I was, in a phrase, scared wittness.
The pews filled slowly. The dirty, unshaven men who lay strenge about the sidewalks outside the building began to drift in.
Most were black, many were drunk and all looked as if they were better suited for jail than church.
My anxiety mounted as the church filled. I doubted that I would be alive when the morning came.
As I cowered in fear, trying to seem tough and downtrodden, an old black man bid beside me. He pulled his coat off and let out a bell, blew his nose and smiled at me.
"You ain't been here, have you?" he said. "Don't worry. They always make sure the new ones get beds."
The man sensed my fear and explained what would happen to me. The churchmen would have a service, then the newcomers would be led upstairs where they stripped, showered and took their beds.
With the man's few words, I relaxed In this strange place, among strangers, kind words and a smile took on special meaning.
And when the man had explained what was to happen to me, he pulled a sandwich, a can of soda and a candy bar from his coat pockets.
He divided the sandwich and candy and we two, a lost, middle-class boy and an old, impoverished man, devoured those morsels like
madmen, taking care not to draw attention to ourselves for fear of being thrown out.
The service proceeded and while I listened, the man slept. I was then, being a newcomer, led to the mass chamber, where I slept until夕晚.
I never saw the man again. But the picture of him sleeping in the wooden church pews comes to mind now and again.
This month, as I thought about the heritage of the blacks in America, I could not help but think of the old days when our people were me at that difficult time in my life.
No history books will ever recount his life. No plaques will honor his presence. Yet to me he is gentility, compassion and kindness.
Frederick Douglass, Charlie Parker and Booker T. Washington all have their place in American history. But so does this man. He is an ideal, and I will remember him as such.
All of us have known such people. And as we review the works of the great and well-known during times such as Black History Month, we should not forget the lesser-known. They are also history.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Letter was outrageous
To the editor:
As an art student, I was outraged by the letter titled "Creative Spirit."
An individual has a right to his own tastes, but the author of this letter showed little understanding or appreciation for art concerning the creative human mind.
What she considers "junk pile" and "childish stick figure drawings," are hours of hours of
An artist must combine all elements of line, space, composition, balance, eye movement and design into a "whole" that produces the effect the artist desires.
Combining all these elements with creativity and imagination is not an easy project. It also seems she does not understand that in many instances the thought process, ideas and theories that go into a work of art are just as important and valid as the final result.
The artists that do produce "stickfigure drawings," which first graders could do, are not creating these figures because they cannot draw realism but because they choose to draw in illustrations.
They manipulate, change and alter forms to communicate and produce an idea or effect.
The author of this letter is also not recognizing human individuality. What one thinks is a 'junk' or 'waste' and should be disposed of.
Lawrence sophomore
Beth Hart
Letter to Coach Brown
We are two of many loyal Jayhawk basketball fans who would like to take an opportunity to express our adulation for you, especially in light of their coaching job during the KU Oklahoma game.
An open letter:
To the editor:
Before each home game, we are among the group of students lined up for hours at the door of Allen Field House, waiting for the doors to open so they could play. We are the 13th of the student section behind the Jawahk bench.
It has proven to be well worth the hours of waiting, as we have had the opportunity during the present season to watch one of the finest coaches in the game work to build on a great basketball tradition, and develop a club which is, as of the past few games, playing up to that winning tradition, as well as playing with discipline and sportsmanship.
The 'Hawks played with great pride and courage against Oklahoma; they nearly upset the Hawks in opening Spring Training.
Equally as impressive as your coaching performance, was your demeanor in dealing with the understandably emotional crowd which you have encountered in arrogance in victory in an unfortunate manner.
And, it was as much due to your extreme finesse as a cosch, as to the play of the team, that the 'Hawks managed to stay in the game, and tie it in the final second of regulation time, to put the game into the extra period.
You proved, not only in your actions to bring the crowd back under control but also in your support of your players, that you are a man of the utmost dignity.
When Billy Tubbs (who once again proved himself to be a man who needed to learn the meaning of the word dignity) called that last time out with only eight seconds remaining in the overtime period so that he, his staff, and his team could taunt "the disappointed home crowd, it was great to hear the team that they" had being to be ashamed of and that they" played an "outstanding game."
Some coaches would have yelled at the team for what they did not do. It proved that you have class. We hope that if the Jayhawks have an opportunity to celebrate a victory over the Sooners at the upcoming Big Eight post-season tournament, they will act in a manner that all of the people of Kansas can be of, rather than with the pompous behavior displayed by the Oklahoma team and coaching staff. We are sure that under your leadership, such will be the case.
Let us just say that although we were big fans of Ted Owens during his illustrious career here, we have also, in just a short time, become big fans of Larry Brown.
We are also confident that you will once again
turn the Jayhawks into the national college
basketball team.
Brian Kahl, Wichita sophomore Robert J. Martin, Colby junior
Saluting KU basketball
Pat Kehde
To the editor:
KU's men's and women's varsity basketball teams have provided the campus and Lawrence community with a lot of fun this winter.
The Jayhawks and Lady Jayhs make this a more interesting place to live, and I appreciate having them there.
After two weeks of below-freezing weather at Christmas and lots of flu bugs running around, it is a hard winter. Yet nearly every Wednesday we see flashes of smiling faces coming to Allen Field House.
The editorial says, in addition, that Americans should not honor the Sandinistas with their presence until the Nicaraguan government has proven their humanity and that all supposed to themselves "persevere" and to whom.
Pat Kehde assistant director of student organizations and activities
To the editor:
Writing fallacy-laden
In reference to the Feb. 16 editorial in the University Daily Kansas titled "Nation Shows Off," I would like to say that I have seldom read in a variety of forms, but I am curious as a superficial and fallacy-laden piece of writing.
Washington pressures Nicaragua to resume its democratic process. Nicaragua not only sets a date for the event but invites the American president and candidates so they have an insight into the process.
What makes the Nicaraguan elections a show off? The writer refers to the alleged human rights violations of the "Soviet- and Cuban-supported government" as a reason for not crediting the coming elections in Nicaragua with any sort of legitimacy.
Are human rights violations by the U.S.supported Salvadoran government any less condemnable? Political dissidents in El Salvador are not exactly given red carpet treatment, yet the Reagan administration continues to support that country's "democratic" process.
And if perhaps the implication is that Latin American countries have an involuntarily acquired obligation to prove themselves to the United States, could the editorial writer have told us when and by what means they acquired that oblation?
Furthermore, failing to see the existing contradictions in U.S. international policy, the writer says that the United States should avoid involving other nations who count on American consistency."
What consistency? How can nations rely on something non-existent? I don't recall that the U.S. government put pressure on Somoza to control his "guarda," to cease "elimination" of political dissent, or to engage his country in an honest democratic process.
Finally, if Nicaragua thinks it has any reason to show off (which I doubt), might it not be in an attempt to shake from its shoulders the hand of Umbel Sam so that it stops supporting and training the "guardia" now organized as right-wing guerrillas?
The least one can expect from an editorial writer is that he write with knowledge of the subject and give his readers some factual evidence of that knowledge.
Ana del Corral Medellin, Colombia, senior