OPINION
The University Daily KANSAN
February 7,1984 Page 4
The University Daily KANSAN
Published since 1889 by students of the University of Kansas
The University Daily Kansas (USPK 600-640) is published at the University of Kansas, 118 Shaffer Fell Hall, Excelsior Street, daily during the regular school year and Monday and Thursday during the summer session, excluding Saturday, Sunday, and final periods, and final periods. Subscriptions payable to a Lawyer at Kansas 6004. Subscriptions are for $15 for six months or $24 for nine months, and a semester paid through the student activity fee. POSTMASTER: address changes to the University.
DOUG CUNNINGHAM
DON KNOX
Managing Editor
SARA KEMPIN
Editorial Editor
JEFF TAYLOR ANDREW HARTLEY
Campus Editor News Editor
DAVE WANAMAKER
Business Manager
PROCESS General Manager and News Adviser
CORR GORMAN JILL MTICHELL
CORTIAL Sales Manager National Sales Manager
JANICE PHILIPS  DUNCANCALIHOU
Campus Sales Manager  Classified Manager
JOHN OBERZAN Sales and Marketing Adviser
Silent treatment
The most vehement "no comment" is commentary just the same.
Indeed, this is the case in Athletic Director Monte Johnson's unwillingness to publicly shed light on the dispute that recently surfaced between head basketball coach Larry Brown and a history professor.
David Katzman, the professor and an associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, accused Brown of acting unethically in attending a meeting to discuss the failing grade Katzman gave point guard Cedric Hunter.
The grade, in an American history course, made Hunter academically ineligible for the spring semester.
When asked about the situation Thursday by a Kansan reporter and again by an editor, Johnson said he would not talk to the Kansan until it developed "an appreciation for trying to do its part in helping create a strong athletic program at the University."
Johnson similarly resisted supporting a public forum on athletics and academics that Katzman and Brown suggested in their correspondence.
The forum, he said, simply would bring up "the same kind of garbage" that was reported Friday about Hunter. Brown and Katzman.
Johnson's silence is a strong indication that he truly thinks that the operations of the athletic department are beyond public scrutiny and that academics are second to winning in building a "strong" athletic program.
But there is little indication that Brown supports such a notion.
Brown's honesty and up-front approach to the matter show that he stands behind his decision to support
his ball players both on and off the court.
Brown attended the meeting between Katzman and Hunter out of what appears to be a genuine concern for Hunter. Brown did not violate University regulations in meeting with Katzman.
But while Brown's intentions in meeting with Katzman may have been strictly honorable, the meeting constitutes an error in Brown's judgment.
No "special circumstances" exist for athletes — regardless of previous schooling, status on a athletic team or enrolling in a course one month late. Athletes are students the same as everyone else enrolled in this University.
As Hunter said, although he wanted Brown's support in the meeting with Katzman, he ultimately was responsible for completing his school work and passing the exams.
Recent KU basketball standouts David Magley, Darnell Valentine and Lynette Woodard showed that a balance could be struck between work on and off the court. All three earned Academic All-America honors.
But one example of an error in judgment does not warrant the label that Brown is not "concerned about the integrity of our academic standards at the University of Kansas." Katzman's charge is overstated.
However, Katzman's letter raises healthy questions about the role of athletes in an academic setting.
If nothing else, it served the purpose of demonstrating that at least one official in the athletic department — the athletic director — appears unwilling publicly to support academics in his "strong" athletic program.
Being good neighbors
The St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center is in the midst of controversy.
The Center has aroused the ire of many residents in the neighborhood with its plans to build a church, chapel and student center for Catholic students.
The controversy has grown to such proportions that a neighborhood association recently was compelled to take out a full-page advertisement in a local newspaper.
The Crescent-Engel Neighborhood Association originally planned to meet with leaders of the St. Lawrence Catholic Center to work out problems that they, as residents, had with the Center's building proposal.
Adequate parking, building size, and the potential impact of the proposed buildings on the neighborhood are all legitimate concerns.
The advertisement, written in a way alarming enough to make any homeowner feel threatened, is clearly only half the story.
certainly something worth talking about.
And although the groups had done a good deal of talking, both knew there was still a long way to go.
Unfortunately, the Crescent- Engel Neighborhood Association chose to adamond discussion and instead took its message directly to the public.
The Crescent-Engel Neighborhood Association would do well to take to heart the headline on its own ad — "Neighbors should act like neighbors," it says.
Discussion — often hours of face-to-face conversation, and then compromise, is much more typical of good neighbors than putting forth information about only one side of the issue.
The University Daily Kansan 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 of the Kansan also invites individuals and groups submitted guest columns and groups can be mailed or brought to the Kansson office, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit or reject letters and columns.
Mass political movements and religions are built around people such as Barbara Marx Hubbard.
Specific answers are needed
She said she offered a new political choice and a vision of the American dream fulfilled.
When she announced her candidacy for the vice presidency of the United States Thursday in Lawrence, Hubbard, 54, spoke of peace, individual potential, "the creative majority", and a magnificent future.
Language such as that can sway populations.
But that does not mean that she should be the next vice president of the United States.
Bless America" after her press conference in a small, crowded room of the Holiday Inn Holdome, was hard not to see a bright American future resting in the hands of the author and mother of
And, I admit that, deep down, I like the woman because she resembles Jimmy Stewart's honest character in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." The idealist with a firm faith in God and country, it seems, has come to lead the nation toward a new age.
aside. Also, they're the ideas that the people of the United States want to hear.
Stripped down to the nity-gritty, what Hubbard is saying is simple — every person is beautiful, each citizen can make a difference, and we can work together to save the earth and the human race.
LETTERS POLICY
Although the ideas are not new, they are truly noble — all cynicism
Hubbard probably has a better shot at the office than most people think. With her positive message and the Democrats' desire for a female vice president, people are and will continue to listen to her.
Hubbard has never been elected to public office. And although she
But she is just not qualified for the job.
consideris this to be an asset, a vice president should have had some previous experience in public administration to acquire a deeper understanding of how the American political system really works.
If the President were killed or disabled, Hubbard would take over possibly the most important office in the world without the necessary political training.
Besides, what does a futurist researcher really do? If she is supposed to tell what the future will be like, she is not the only person qualified to do that. Any fortune teller will do.
In her speech Thursday, in a citizens' forum that night and in the literature that her supporters eagerly handed out. Hubbard spoke of making the vice-presidency "the voice of the nation" which will set down long range goals.
big-league politics, she'd probably get eaten alive.
She speaks of saving the environment and eliminating poverty and hunger. She promotes conservation and the use of renewable energy to provide the sun, wind and water. She wants to rebuild American communities.
She said she would plan to initiate a massive space program to foster human development and peace. She supports a bilateral, verifiable nuclear freeze and she wants to "build trust, not bombs."
She said she believes in genuine equality for every citizen and she speaks of fully developing the potential of each person on earth.
But is anybody against these things?
Her ideas are wonderful, but they lack the specifics. A plan is useless if
Money is an obvious question here. In her literature and in her speeches Thursday, she did not say who would pay for her "office of the future" or other programs to eliminate general human misery.
President Reagan recently presented a budget for fiscal year 1985 of $295 billion, with a projected deficit of about $180 billion. Last week, David Stockman, his budget director, warned that the United States could go bankrupt if huge deficits continued.
Hubbard will be taken more seriously, if she shows how the programs will support themselves. But these objections should be put to all candidates for public office, not just Hubbard.
Congress probably would be unable and unwilling, given the present political climate, to just hand out the money.
Finally, Hubbard says that she is running for vice president because of a general feeling among people of the United States of time to "lect a woman to the office."
Although Americans must seriously consider selecting a female vice president, they should not run out and support the first woman that comes along without seriously looking at her credentials.
it cannot be put into place because no one knows how it will work
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
More on 'boring'
To the editor:
I, too, am from Michigan and wish to comment on the "debate" over which state — Kansas or Michigan — is "more boring."
Agreeing with Mark S. Reed, I also find the debate to be rather ridiculous and "unbringing of government officials." I also agree with Harry Malin and his conjecture on how well run the state of Kansas is.
But neither points, either Reed's or Malin's, have anything to do with what Gov. Jim Blanchard was saying. He wasn't commenting on how well run Michigan is versus Kansas; he was referring to excitement — something usually associated with entertainment — upbite.
But I guess you Kansans wouldn't know about that if turtle races at the local bar on a Friday night is your game. It's not what you'd know about y'all, but I like to dance.
For the last 15 years I have lived in Birmingham, a suburb of Detroit. I frequently went into the city, especially during the summer, for weekend ethnic festivals, concerts, or performances at Grand Prix and quiet walks along the River; one of the cleanest rivers America the beautiful has to offer.
Canada is just a few minutes away and it can, too, have a nightly to offer, including bars that stay open past the witching hour — sometimes until midnight or the morning. But I guess that's way past Kansas kiddies' bedtime.
I can understand a few Top 40 stations, but there seems to be a monopoly — oh, with lots of equally boring advertisements such as,
"Would you buy a car from this man?
(Ray Town Car Dealer).
And the Kansas radio stations — do they ever play anything besides mediocre makeout music such as Air Supply or wimpy Christopher Cross? Let's hear some Prince, Andre Cymone, the Time, U2, David Bowie or even the Who and early Stones.
The man is wearing a double-knit polyester suit with laperls out to his shoulders. Somebody had better buy
I didn't even get mugged!
a car from this guy or at least buy him a new suit.
Talk about monoteon voices — c'mon Ray, let's put a little excitement into it! No wonder Detroit is in town, we've got salesmen like Ray!
People constantly ask me, "Why KU?"
And I respond, sincerely, "Because of the journalism school." But I also chose the University of Kansas because Lawrence is so boring. If I had gone to school in Kansas, I would never have studied.
Mary E. Coffey Detroit, Mich.
Since then, we have composed a hard-working group of 70 students on our student committee to help organize and run the Relays this year.
Support needed
To the editor:
We are seeking student support in various ways to help the Relays run smoothly. One area that we need is in the area of student officiating
Last fall we started work on the 1984 Kansas Relays, and although you probably don't realize it, they aren't that far off.
The Relays can't be run with their help alone, though. It takes the cooperation of the entire campus.
Applications are now available at the Track Office, 143 Allen Field House. The deadline for applications is Feb. 29. We also need various living groups to provide housing for the athletes while they are here.
Most of all, we need the great support from the student body, the administration and alumni, and from the city of Lawrence as a
The Kansas Relays have been a great KU tradition for more than half a century and this tradition deserves to be continued. In the past couple of years attendance has grown, and our interest directed toward the Relays.
In this Olympic year let's make an attempt to rejuvenate interest in the Relays by attending them with family and friends.
Chip Cooper, Fairway junior
This year's Kansas Relays promise to showcase some of the nation's greatest athletes and should be extremely exciting.
Chip Cooper, Fairway junior
Tom Jacobs, Overland Park junior
Amy Foster, Overland Park junior
Kansas Relays Tri-chairman
Lack of initiative
To the editor:
To all other.
This letter is in response to the news article of Feb. 1 in the University Daily Kansan concerning Templin Hall's mail withholding policy.
The facts relayed by the article leave me shaking my head in disbelief. The whole incident reminds one of the mindlessness and lack of initiative demonstrated in Huxley's "Brave New World."
It's difficult to believe that the Tempin resident director failed to realize the gravity of obstructing the mail or that Fred McEhene, officer of residential programs, was oblivious to the situation for two years.
Perplexed thoughts race through my mind upon closer examination of the situation. I am not sure what makes me more furious, this unconscionable policy of Tempin Hall or the lack of its continence by those affected.
AURH commands no respect for allowing such situations to fall by the wavside.
The other side of the situation brings to light residents that have allowed this policy to continue for two years. Granted that those not inclined to incur fines will not be aware of this policy, but those affected should have seen its illegality.
The "off the record" feelings of AURH elected officials would have us overlook this incident, 1 challenge AURH not to take this easy walk.
The consequences of this policy must be considered — the non-payment of levied fines is a matter to be dealt with by the respective hall, but this does not hand them the reigns of unbridled power.
Douglas Neumann Topeka senior
The nuances in campaign for president
- Woodchopping, for example, is In.
WASHINGTON — As we begin the long pull toward November, some of the particulars of the 1848 presidential campaign are becoming clear. As in other cultural forms, a definite list of Ins and Outs can be discerned
There are indications that senior weightlifting, or pumping iron after 70, also will be an In pursuit.
Thus far these amount to a
- Heroes are In.
It helps to be the commander in chief and be able to brave a young army medic next to your wife at a State of the Union speech, but free-lance her hobnobbing also is possible. In the way to Darmapus to bring it off.
The political rhyme has reached prime time and will have its day in the campaign fray. To catch the moment, you'll need to no need to guess, just listen to lees.
ARNOLD SAWISLAK United Press International
- Jogging is Out
one-man trend, unless Harold Stassen gets into axes and dumbbells.
Vice President Bush and Sen. Alan Cranston both are still bravely pounding the pavement, but the former is running in place and the latter nowhere. There is every sign that Obama was the last gasp of military job development said to have brought profound relief to the Secret Service.
- Rhyming speeches and rynntmical phrases are In.
The trend is just emerging, but don't be surprised if the president declares he has brought the nation on to recession from progression.
As the trend catches on, watch for the other candidates to show up at campaign rallies with small boys who rescue old ladies from burning houses and gold medal bobsled jockeys.
After March 5, only one or two candidates will have anything nice to say about the Midwest and New England. It will be the Sun Belt where glittering promise lies for most of the presidential hopefuls.
- Congress is Out
- Tip O'Neill and Howard Baker will to hold joint news conferences in order to draw enough reporters to kill the echoes in their offices. Most of the newsies will be following the candidates and the heroes, tramping down the grass roots and listening to the rhyming speeches.
- Bipartisan commissions are In.
- Bipartisan commissions are in. A device both the Republicans and the Democrats have discovered to avoid problems before the elections when the obvious solutions are political hazardous.
- The weather is Out.
Replaced in 1894 by the federal deficit as the subject everyone talks about but no one does anything about.