OPINION
The University Daily KANSAN
September 30,1983 Page4
The University Daily KANSAN
Published since 1889 by students of the University of Kansas
The University Daily Kansan (USPS 605-640) is published at the University of Kansas, 118 Staffer-First Hall, Lawrence, Kan. K600s daily during the regular school year and Monday and Thursday during the summer sessions. Subscriptions are $15 for six months or $30 for a year outside the county. Student subscriptions are $3 a semester through the student activity by POSTMASTER. Subscriptions are $15 for six months or $30 for a year outside the county.
MARK ZIEMAN
Editor
DOUG CUNNINGHAM STEVE CUSICK
Managing Editor Editorial Editor
MICHAEL ROBINSON
Campus Editor
PAUL JESS
General Manager and News Advisor
ANN HORNBERGER Business Manager
DAVE WANMAKER          MARK MEARS
Retail Sales           National Sales
Manager
JOHN OBERZAN Advertising Adviser
LYNNE STARK Campus Sales Manager
Campus safety
The wizardry doesn't exist to purge our society of its rapists and other deviantes waiting in dark corners to attack. These sick people exist, there is no doubt. Unfortunately, some of them probably are lurking about Mount Oread, waiting to strike — they have in the past.
Their presence is like an incurable disease. There's no choice but to live with it. However, we can treat it by taking a dose of preventive medicine — some common-sense precautions.
Rapes can happen not only in dark halls and alleys, but even in rooms of residence halls. A McCollum Hall woman was raped early in September. A man walked into her room while she was sleeping, tied her and raped her. She now wants other women to take precautions so the same thing doesn't happen to them.
Please listen to her. Don't walk
alone at night, lock your doors, know your neighbors and follow other common-sense measures.
It's a shame women can't walk alone. It's a shame they must lock their doors. It's a shame they can't always trust their neighbors and sometimes even supposed friends. But society must bear the shame, and both men and women must live with the reality and the responsibility.
The University also must share in the responsibility for the safety of women. For starters, it could put in more lights to illuminate the many dark pockets that descend on the campus after the sun goes down. Some normal pathways by day become spooky, graveyard-roads by night. The darkness provides a perfect playground for attackers.
Administrators and students alike must be aware of the danger. That's the only way we can prevent it.
Now another showing has been scheduled. For 11 a.m. The other two showings were moved to 1:30 and 5 p.m.
we again suggest the bureau schedule a showing in the evening, when more people could attend, at Hoch Auditorium, which seats 3,700 people. More than 1,200 KU students were used as extras in the film. Hundreds of other Lawrence residents also participated. Clearly, adding an extra showing for 536 people will not even accommodate those who were involved with the film, much less those who are interested.
Careful readers will remember that the Kansan earlier expressed dissatisfaction over the scheduling of the premiere, which originally was set for two public showings at noon and 3 p.m. in 536-seat Woodruff Auditorium. The reasoning went something like this: Why go to the trouble of scheduling a "world premiere" of the movie in Lawrence if you're only going to provide seating for 1,072 people? And who's going to be able to skip class or leave work during the day to attend?
At the risk of beating a dead horse,
Proving once again that it is better not to do something than to do it halfway, the Lawrence Convention and Visitor's Bureau has decided to schedule another showing of the ABC movie "The Day After" during the Lawrence premiere Oct. 12, in a lame attempt to give more people a chance to participate in the event.
No one is asking that every member of the community be guaranteed a seat for the premiere. But those who do get tickets shouldn't have to skip class or work to attend. Even one evening showing at Woodruff would be better than nothing.
Oh — there is one at 8 p.m., a private, invitation-only affair for Chancellor Budig, Mayor Longhurst, Gov. Carlin and other "diagnataries" who, one presumes, couldn't get off work to attend an earlier screening.
Some smart comments
"I hate to see this wonderful country being maltreated by contractors and by some of you people up here because you don't do your damn job," he told members of a House oversight committee yesterday.
Members of Congress are now smarting because retired Adm. Hyman Rickover said that they were to blame for huge cost overruns and profiteering by defense contractors.
Incredibly, however, some members of the committee took offense at Rickover's comments. One even went so far as to suggest that it was not proper for a witness before a congressional panel to criticize its members.
Of course, Congress is hardly the only group to blame for recent findings that the military has paid inflated prices of hundreds and even thousand of dollars for parts and equipment that should cost pennies or a few dollars.
amid cries for more spending on new and bigger weapons.
Rickover, who was shunted into retirement by President Reagan last year, pioneered the development of the Navy's first nuclear submarine, and he knows what he's talking about.
Rickover at one point asked the committee, "What is the purpose of my being here?" He said that despite his appearances before such committees in the past, nothing had changed.
His comments about congressional oversight of the military and other comments about nuclear war show that his voice is one of reason
Perhaps Rickover is right
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 address. The Kansan also invites individuals and groups to talk about individuals, Columns and letters can be made brought to the Kanson office, 111 Staffer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit or reject letters and columns.
A partial premiere
Keep the trimmers from this tree
I know; it's a little weird to have a favorite tree. But I'm not alone. This week someone mentioned that very tree to me. It's a large American elm and one of the few trees on campus. A few people are interested about it.
I have a favorite tree on campus.
A science library might be built very near to it. No concrete plans have been made and it's a little early to be screaming bloody murder, but it's hard not to notice that the tree is big and the space for the library is small. If the library is built there, part of that tree is bound to have to go.
LETTERS POLICY
So big deal, you say. Trees can survive trimming.
Sure, they can. But this tree is special, and
DEBORAH
wouldn't be it if we shape its shape to trimmers. There are relatively few American elms in Lawrence since an epidemic of Dutch elm disease wiped out hundreds of them from local gardens in the 1960s.
Staff Columnist
This particular tree is more than a trunk, a set of branches and a bunch of leaves. It's a giant canopy at least 80 feet in diameter in a nearly perfect circle. Its branches arch gracefully down, almost to the ground. You'd walk up it of the Military Science Building. You'd walk by it if you were going from Wescroy mhpalls hays.
If you don't know which one I mean, you might visit it. Go ahead. You can't miss it.
Wiechert knows about the tree, and he seems sincere when he calls it beautiful. But he is in charge of buildings, and he correctly says we have a need for a library. Current space for readers is below Regens' standards, and as the number of bookings declines, the book must be inadequate. Thus, Wiechert's priority is the library, not the tree.
The proposed library, already smaller than originally planned and probably not big enough to make KU's library system as good as it should be, would improve the library system by creating more of it, which would bring together all the science library materials, which now are scattered in at least five small libraries.
So far, the Regents are asking for only two buildings this year. So, if the state is financially healthy, chances are good that the request will be met and the building can be hire an architect and to make preliminary plans.
When I think about the purpose of a university, I have to agree that libraries are more important than trees. But the trees make the campus beautiful, and the trees especially the beautiful elm that survived the blight.
That's when a building site would be chosen and the library would begin to take shape on paper. If the schedule follows the plan, the library would be ready in July 1989.
Allen Wiechtert, University director of facilities planning, is in charge of plans for the building. He said KU and the Board of Regents would request planning money for the building from the Kansas State University.
The University would need fewer library staff members and fewer copy machines if it had one science building instead of several. The suggested solution is because it is close to several of the science buildings.
Maybe the library can be built far enough from the tree not to hurt it. I hope so.
World forgets Gandhi's lessons
In a land 7,000 km² away, Oct. 2 has been set aside as a day of national celebration. Oct. 2 is "Gandhi Jayanthi," the 114th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi.
My childhood memories of Oct. 2 are vivid. In school we were let out of class and given free candy. We saw a documentary film on Gandhi,
PRIYA
PERIANA-
YAKAM
Guest Columnist
sang Tagore's "India Arise" and devoured the candy.
I remember that in those days it bothered me that Gandhi went around tooplast. I couldn't understand this flagrant invitation to the elements to play havoc with his frame. I used to feel guilty and miserable in my white polyester outfit and red tie. It somehow made me feel more confident. I wear even a scrap, while the "Father of the Nation," had locked a shirt.
It was much later that I began to comprehend the magnificent effect of his life upon India and the world.
Thanks to Sir Richard Attenborough, there is an international awakening to the reality of a revolutionary called Gandhi. Recently, the film was presented by Student Union Activities, and some of you probably went for the second or third time to draw inspiration from this remarkable "tour de force."
A Gandhi is not born every day. It is impossible to think of his birth without being reminded of his death too. To an Indian who lived abroad, the memory of Gandhi brings with it the recollection of his leadership in the epic struggle 'for India' independence from the British yoke, his painstaking efforts for Hindu-Moslem unity and his endeavors for economic and social justice for the poor and wretched. It is hard to recall his life and martyrdom without pain and anger.
As Oct. 2 draws near, the wound reopens, forcing the mind to a confrontation. It is time to assess the significance of this man who has lived on its knees, mobilized a diverse nation and changed the world forever.
Gandhi believed in the power of nonviolence reinforced by truth. His unique achievement was to convey these values to social and political life. They formed the backbone of his civil disobedience movement.
Gandhi's concept of civil disobedience is akin to Henry David
Thoreau's. If the law isn't just, then break the law. Not by violence or by brute force, but by passive resistance.
Gandhi's doctrine of civil disobedience evolved from his experiments in South Africa where he gave his support to Indians there who were suffering from oppressive regimes.
Meanwhile in India, Britain was draining the Indian coffers gradually but steadily. On Gandhi's return, he took the task of educating his countrymen to protest peacefully, without the aid of arms.
GUEST COLUMN
One man had begun to weave the fabric of a nation, and the British shuffled uneasily in their shoes. Gandhi proved to be a thorn in the flesh of the British and therefore was imprisoned. Another effective vehicle of protest was the long periods of fast that he undertook. Finally, the British grew weary and withdrew from Indian soil.
Gandhi conquered the British with the tool of nonviolence, a concept that he said was strengthened by his exposure to the Christian concept of turning the other cheek to one's persecutor.
It is impossible to render full justice to such an Olympian figure like Gandhi in this short column.
However, it is pertinent to ask what relevance Gandhi now has in our world of nuclear tensions and carnage.
India has deviated from Gandhi's teachings. The violence demonstrated in the riots of Assam early this year and the death and destruction that followed contradicted claims that Gandhi left his country.
Gandhi's nonviolence also has not been followed on the international scene — the shooting of the com-munster. Korean airliner is a fresh reminder.
To the true believer of Gandhi, the political scenario today causes alarm.
The superpowers used aggressive policies. MX missiles and military buildups to establish dominance and smooth relations in war-torn areas.
We have relegated Gandhi's nonviolence movement to the status of an interesting phenomena. By refusing the truth, by resorting to violence, we are killing Gandhi all over again. In the words of Jawaharlal Nehru, "We cannot serve spirit of Gandhi by dedicating ourselves to the ideals for which he lived and the cause for which he died."
Priya Perionayakam, 26, is a graduate student from India studying journalism at the University of Kansas.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Amnesty International remains nonpolitical
To the Editor:
In his article of Sept. 26, Dave Bojarski seems to have quoted John Healey, the executive director of Amnesty International's United States section, out of context. Concerning Amnesty's methods of documenting human abuses, Healey may actually have said that Amnesty has "spies such as doctors who actually witness the violations."
I am certain, however, that he did not mean to imply that Amnesty hires undercover agents to verify incidents of torture and unfair imprisonment. On the contrary, Amnesty's contacts voluntarily give information to its research department as a consequence of performing their jobs as doctors, teachers, missionaries or journalists. And this is only a part of the information Amnesty receives.
Information reaches the London Research Department in many ways. It comes from the world press; from prisoners and their families (often at great personal risk); from lawyers, refugees and religious organizations; from national and international organizations; and from Amnesty's own missions to countries.
This information is carefully examined, sources cross-checked, biographical and legal data collated, and analyzed to make of each case as to whether it
In order to bring about an end to all forms of torture and unfair imprisonment, Amnesty strives to be as nonideological and non-political as possible, while still holding to its mandate. Clearly, amnesty could not remain nonpolitical if it resorted to acts of espionage.
falls within Amnesy's mandate. Only after passing these examinations is a case assigned to adoption groups.
Mitch Kaufman
Moundridge senior
Nondriver woes
Nondriver woes
To the Editor:
"I would like to describe an overlooked form oil discrimination — discrimination against the nondriver, or should I say, against the nonpossessor of a driver's license. It is generally assumed that nearly all adults drive. Many are quite surprised, especially here in Kansas, to see drivers driving more importantly, "I don't have a driver's license."
Why is it that a driver's license as identification is viewed as nearly sacred? They are official, but that does not guarantee they are genuine or rule out the possibility of mistakes.
As a nonpossessor of a driver's license, I have been hassled constantly in proving who and how old I
Loreen Keating Lawrence senior
am. I finally got fed up and sent for an official copy of my birth certificate, figuring that it would settle the question. It didn't.
Important honor
I then learned I could get from the motor vehicle department an official Kansas identification card that is identical in every respect to a license, except it reads "Kansas Identification Card" instead of "Kansas Driver's License." I thought that my troubles were over, but they're not. I still get strange looks because of my "official" I.D. and often have to explain. Maybe someday I will get a driver's license, perhaps when I also get a car . . . abh bliss.
To the Editor:
The recognition of black beauty in this "demeaning" beauty contest is not only a celebration of women's woman in America, where beauty is measured against white standards
Sure beauty pageants are demeaning to women, but Deborah Baer has missed the point behind the milestone of a black woman winning the Miss America title this year. Benjamin Hooks said, the winning of the pageant by a black woman is worthwhile.
— straight blonde hair, blue eyes,
small noses, lips and bips.
I understand that the press is harassing our black Miss America about her hair. White people never understood the assets of the black woman's versatile "kinky" hair and never will. But this black Miss America sure has brought the questions about our hair to light.
And how does Baer know Vanessa William's winning the Miss America title will not help blacks into medical school? Jane Pittman was a black woman who dared to take a drink of whtever fountain only for whites.
Rosa Parks was a black woman who dared to sit at the front of a bus in Montgomery and refused to move to the back when asked to do so. This incited the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Vanessa Williams will go down in history to join these black activists for recognition for winning "only a dubious honor" of being the first black Miss America.
All of our (black) acts of honor have had to be dubious and demeaning in order to achieve recognition. But these dubious honors have helped blacks attend better schools, enter restaurants through front doors, sit at the front of the bus and other privileges, taken for granted by whites, toward feeling like an equal U.S. citizen.
Alberta N. Wright Secretary, Department of Human Development and Family Life