OPINION
The University Daily KANSAN
November 14. 1983 Page 4
The University Daily KANSAN
Published since 1889 by students of the University of Kansas
The University Daily Kamana (USP$ 650-640) is published at the University of Kansas, 118 Stauffer-Finn Hall, Lawrence, KA. 60055, daily during the regular school year and Monday and Thursday during the summer sessions. Subscriptions by mail are $1 for six months or $27 a year in Douglas County and $1 for six months or $3 for a week outside the county. Student subscriptions are $1 a semester through student activity for *POSTMASTER*. Send subscriptions to: University of Kansas Press, 212 N. Broadway, Lawrence, KS 60055.
MARK ZIEMAN Editor
DOUG CUNNINGHAM STEVE CUSICK
Managing Editor Editorial Editor
DON KNOX Campus Editor
ANN HORNBERGER Business Manager
PAUL JESS General Manager and News Adviser
224551
724551
DAVE WANAMAKER
Retail Sales
Manager
MARK MEARS
National Sales
Manager
LYNNE STARK Campus Sales Manager
JOHN OBERZAN Advertising Adviser
A child and war
As time ticks on toward the scheduled December distribution of 572 U.S. Pershing 2 and cruise missiles in Europe, the world's citizens are becoming more apprehensive about the effects of the distribution.
In Europe and the United States demonstrators regularly protest the distribution. And in Philadelphia a similar, yet quiet, type of arms race protest occurred at the Camp Fire organization's annual meeting.
Delegates to the meeting discussed the overall effect of the nuclear arms race on the psyches of young children growing up under the threat of anapocalyptic destruction.
Leaders of the organization maintain that youth groups such as their group have a responsibility to speak out on issues that affect children and their families.
Camp Fire president Evelyn de Gheletai quoted studies that described children's fears about nuclear war.
"Studies show that children feel the world is going to end and there is no use planning for the future or thinking about having a family." she said.
And so at their annual meeting in Philadelphia, about 300 Camp Fire organization delegates voted to launch a peace education program to help alleviate their young members' dreadful fear of nuclear war.
Camp Fire leaders think the threat of nuclear war is an understandably frightening weight to live under, but they want their 400,000 young members to know they can do something about their fears.
So the organization committed itself to sponsoring discussions about the complexities and controversies of nuclear war. The philosophy is that the more children can talk about their fears, the less they will suffer from them.
Being afraid of nuclear war is a natural reaction for all human beings, children and grownups alike. But at this point, as the scheduled December distribution of missiles draws nearer, anger at the Soviet Union and at U.S. leaders who allow the ticking time bomb of nuclear destruction to continue would be a more useful reaction.
More and more people across the world see the futility of building greater stockpiles of nuclear arms and are showing their concern in organized marches and other protests. Yet, political leaders on both sides ignore their protests and continue to build up their arsenals.
The drive to dispel children's fears of nuclear war is a worthy effort. But how much better it would be to dispel children's fears by assuring them that their world will still be here in five years.
Congressional delays
Congress seems to be near to finishing its work, but it actually has a long way to go.
good news.
Senate majority leader Howard Baker, R-Tenn., says that Congress should be able to adjourn for the year by its target date — Friday.
Baker says the "must" bills to be considered by the Senate concern the following topics: the debt ceiling, the Civil Rights Commission and a package of spending cuts and taxes. The Senate also must vote on the confirmation of William Clark as interior secretary.
Considering that Baker, among others, has criticized Congress for its long sessions and has proposed more emphasis on the idea of citizen-legislators, the idea that congressmen might finish their year's work before Thanksgiving is
The bad news, however, is that among the issues that Congress has failed to settle this year are immigration and deregulation of natural gas. After the senators and representatives finish wrangling next year over that pair of controversies, they can consider some lighter topics, such as a reformed federal criminal code and a revived equal rights amendment.
But elections are also on the congressional agenda for 1984. Action on controversial items is likely to be delayed — say, until 1985.
A school of thought prescribes as the best government that government which governs least. What about that government which procrastinates?
Unmitigated greed
There are two good words to describe General Dynamic Corp.'s attempt to charge the government $9,609 for a tiny wrench: unmitigated greed.
If this were the first time something of this sort occurred, an explanation might be offered: Somebody goofed. But it is not.
That the Senate investigators would conclude the wrench was worth only 12 cents put it in even worse light.
Of course, you cannot decide, based on these incidents, that all defense contractors are out to gouge the government — and us taxpayers. But it does make you wonder how many $5,000 screws and bolts slip through the watchdogs.
In August, the Washington Post traced the Boeing Co.'s attempt to wrest from the government $1,118.26 each for plastic caps used to keep
stools from wobbling in a radar plane. A matchbook would have done fine.
The spare parts for defense, contractors is big business — too big. The government should reward gross greed with retaliation: penalties and termination of contracts.
-Durham (N.C.) Morning Herald
The University Daily Kanass 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 Kanass also invites individ-ual requests to add columns. Columns and letters can be mailed or brought to the Kanass office, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. The Kanass reserves the right to edit or reject letters and columns.
LETTERS POLICY
The candidates A unity of thought Your Student Senate
Steve Bergstrom, Winnetka, Ill.,
junior, is the presidential candidate
for the Freedom Coalition. Greg
Haushick, Scott City senior, is
the Freedom vice-presidential candidate.
The principal difference between the Freedom Coalition and the other coalitions is that we have unity of thought. The Student Senate elections for years have been plagued by coalitions that purported to be united behind a platform while campaigning, only to become a group of individuals once elected.
We saw this happen last year when the leaders of the Consensus Coalition came out against funding for Gay and Lesbian Services, and yet the coalition had fund and helped them anyway.
One would think that when electing a coalition one would be
STEVE
BERGSTOM
Presidential
Candidate
FOOM
electing a group of people who think alike. Yet this has not been the case for years, and again is not the case this year.
The fact is that students cannot be certain what they are voting for when a coalition is based upon where one lives and who one knows, rather than upon political philosophy.
The Freedom Coalition is not ambiguous on these matters. The voter will know exactly where the candidates stand in the presidential candidates.
Thomas Jefferson more than 200 years ago wrote that it was morally wrong to force an individual to contribute either time or money to a cause or activity that he did not support. Officials at the University of Kentucky and the University of student fee system, have demonstrated that they do not uphold the same ideals as our forefather.
We members of the Freedom Coalition believe that since college students are mature enough to vote, marry and die in defense of our country, they are also mature enough to spend their money on groups, projects and services as they please.
To compel students to finance any speaker when they are giving a presentation, simply, wrong. Jefferson expressed it well when he wrote.
"To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he believes is sinful and tyrannical."
In this respect, we of the Freedom Coalition have pledged, if elected, to terminate funding of specific groups and projects that threaten the health of students supportable by a substantial segment of the student body.
We view as contradictory the moral stand by many students that excuses them from registering for a possible future draft because of religious beliefs, while at the same time manifesting intolerance toward others who feel that it is morally wrong to live a homosexual lifestyle or financially support those who do
Freedom Coalition members' opinions are varied on the issue of the morality of homosexuality. However, we all agree that to coerce students whose religious beliefs proscribe homosexuality to contribute to the Gay and Lesbian community, we must their beliefs and a violation of the First Amendment. We will therefore, quit financing GLOK,
The Freedom Coalition thinks the Associated Students of Kansas is a mismomer. Very few students on the KU campus even know what the acronym ASK stands for, much less what ASK stands for. The student body is richly diverse, representing people with different cultural, economic, political and social backgrounds.
To assert that a small group of virtual unknowns can in any shape, matter or form truly represent the "interest's" of the students is ludicrous. At a time when our computer science department is strapped for funds, the East Asian languages department is facing a financial crisis and students are finding fewer course offerings, we don't have money to throw away.
The thousands of dollars dissipated by ASK will be returned to the University earmarked for investing in America's future — its youth. We came to KU to study, learn and expand our horizons. This is where our priorities lie. We do not support financing any more layers of bureaucracy and waste.
Kevin Walker, Webster Groves, Mo., senior, is the presidential candidate for the Momentum Coalition. Mark McKee, Overland Park junior, is the Momentum vice-presidential candidate.
- The importance of the student voter at the University of Kansas cannot be overlooked. Only through a popular mandate from the student body, not just in more votes alone but also in clear support, can a position of success be created, patent and, ultimately, effective in translating student opinion and demand into political action.
In return for that mandate, the voter receives not only political action, but also responsive government that is "tuned-in" to student needs. Voters should also require honesty and integrity from their leaders — leaders who do not sidestep issues or rely on
unethical campaign practices to ensure victory.
The Momentum Coalition is a group of hard-working, dedicated individuals who are worthy of both your trust and vote. The team has found a number of issues that concern us all as students.
The first issue deals with our education, or more specifically, how available education is for KU students. To aid graduate and undergraduate students, those with financial difficulties of any type, Momentum proposes a deferred tuition program. Many large universities have deferred tuition programs, but KU has traditionally shied away from this prospect. A system in which students would pay one-third down at enrollment, one-third just before midterm, and one-third just before final exams is not only feasible but practical as well. The administration could levy a 15 percent fee to cover the costs of the program. This plan
Today the Kansan is running columns written by the four Student Senate presidential candidates or their aides. Each coalition attempts to outline its campaign platform for the Senate elections, which will Wednesday and Thursday. Tomorrow, the Kansan will take an in-depth look at each presidential coalition in INSIDE: The 1983 Student Senate Elections.
would ease the economic burden Ronald Helms, an internationally known illumination engineer and a member of the KU faculty, has begun an in-depth campus lighting study. Momentum would seek to make use of this study and is committed to spending between $30,000 and $40,000 from the Senate unallocated account to share in the costs of proper campus lighting. A safe, secure campus for all. Your campus, your Senate working for you.
The third issue deals with guaranteed check approval for students. Momentum would like to set up a check approval system in coordination with Lawrence merchants that would eliminate the need for all those different check cashing cards A $,5,000 Senate fund could be set aside to guarantee a check up to $20 from any KU student with a valid ID. Students who write bad checks would be charged a $10 fee, and the amount of the bad checks would be collected in the same way as other unpaid University fees are collected — before enrollment is allowed. Transcript and enrollment holds could be effective in encouraging compliance.
Momentum also has been working to bring you, right here on campus, a McDonald's restaurant. Pam Sullins, McDonald's Real Estate Manager, has expressed an interest in bringing KU the same advantages that McDonald's gives such schools as the University of Missouri and Michigan; profits could conceivably aid the Kansas Union in lowering book prices.
Momentum is a group of representatives, concerned students looking for the opportunity to work for you in the Senate. We are seeking to provide you with accessibility, a willingness to sit down with any student about any problem. If you are tired of electing the same old group of people every year, then you have a choice. Vote for integrity, not for activism; don't be duped into supporting the status quo coalition. Vote for Momentum — a coalition working for you now, a coalition working for you later.
paced on students and their families while still allowing for the necessary checks to make the system work.
The second issue is a campus safety issue — campus lighting KU has many problem areas where students cannot walk safely at night without fear. Momentum does not believe that we must wait for further tragedies before action can be taken.
Listening to students slated as top priority
Scott Swenson, Topeka junior, is the presidential candidate for the Priority Coadition. Dennis Strikelowski is the presidential Priority vice-presidential candidate.
This Wednesday and Thursday you will elect a new Student Senate. This indeed is something worthy of your consideration. The new Senate will be allocating your dollars, representing you at different levels of University governance and on the state level as well. Those of us running on the Priority Coalition recognize the challenge and are eager to meet it head on.
I hope that you realize the importance of your decision and that you will take a good hard look at the issues before you. You
SCOTT SWENSON
Presidential Candidate
RITY
may choose from a coalition that is well packaged and ready to sell to the world, or you may choose others more grassroots in nature.
Priority is willing to talk with you and listen to you, that's what we've been doing in this campaign is talking positively about Priority and about what you want out of your Senate.
Basically we want you to look at more than just the "campaign" and look beyond election day. What will the next Senate do? Are the promises they are making feasible or are they just the typical campaign hype that we have become accustomed to?
I most certainly believe there is more to Student Senate than the political hype that has gone
on. That is why I am in this race and why I have built this coalition which I can proudly say is the best around.
We want to represent you with the experience that has come from being involved in more areas and organizations on this campus than any other coalition. We have made sure that we are connected to every part of camps to insure that your voice will be heard.
Our motivation in running is not for power, but rather for a desire to serve, to learn and hopefully enrich everyone's experience at this University. It takes a good working knowledge to achieve these goals and we possess that knowledge.
We've been addressing campus security, funding structures, the committee process, the Associated Students of Kansas, our role with the Administration and the Memorial Hall among other issues.
But most importantly we want to restore a representative quality to the Student Senate, something that has been sadly missing for the past few years. It's very plain and simple with little glitter and fanfare, but it's the truth. It doesn't promise a payment plan for tuition, no bad checks or Big Macs on campus.
However, it does give you the high quality representation through better accessibility and responsiveness that you deserve.
We aren't the "same old bunch" that has supposed been running things for years. We're Priority, new ideas combined in fresh approach to the ideal of making this truly a Student's Senate.
We encourage and would appreciate your support on election day.
Dennis "Boog" Highberger, Carneet senior, is presidential candidate for the Costume Party Coalition. The Costume vicepresidential candidate is Carla Vogel.
Process is important to the Costume Partv
"An insurrection of clowns and gurus, in behalf of their strange, beautiful and transcendent sanity — that would be a revolution to match the need for our time." Words from Theodore Roszak.
Hello. My name is Boog. I'm a member of the Costume Party. So are you, if you want to. Some of us are running for presidents or KU student government, by my vote. I will ballot as the Costume Party's candidate for president, but that's just because it was my idea
'BOOG'
HIGH-
BERGER
I'm not trying to imply that we all agree on everything — of course not. There is conflict sometimes, but that conflict is less than it seems. We must go through to reach acceptable solutions to our problems.
Presidential Candidate
E PARTY
COSTUME PARTY
that we run. We really don't have a president — we don't have any leaders at all.
I believe that a just and humane society must be organized on the basis of freedom and equality. It must be built on the foundation of relationships based on mutual respect. But this means we must do without power and authority, without leaders and judges.
The Costume Party is an association of free and equal individuals of all different colors, sizes and shapes. Nobody gives anyone else orders, and when we receive a call from our voice carrier equal weight. For us, consensus is not just another catchy name - it's a way of life. I
realize that sounds utopian and idealistic, and it is, but it still very practical. We do it. It works.
We have taken definite stands on what we feel to be important issues, but our "platform" is really the way we deal with each other and the way we reach our decisions. The process is as important as the product — our means will define our goals. We can't make any progress toward a better university and a better society with a campaign based on power games and empty slogans.
We aren't running for student offices because we want power and authority — we want instead to learn and to grow and to understand. Authority is a zero-game, but understanding isn't.
Nonetheless, we do want to get more votes than the other candidates, and I think there is a good possibility that we will. However, I don't think getting the most votes is the same as winning. If empowering our values or modernizing our desires helps this short-term goal, we will have lost no matter how many votes we get.
To see this diverse assortment of men and women, hippies and punks, Americans and people from other countries working together and finding their commonality and treating each other with love and respect, to see all generations working together renewed hope for our future. We are all brothers and sisters. Together we can make it work.
The Costume Party invites you to join us as we work to be free.
1