Opinion
University Daily Kansan, March 11, 1983
Page 4
The president's move
At last the speculation is over, the sideshow has ended.
The first bulletin to the press read: "Environmental Protection Agency chief Anne Burford, facing investigations by Congress and the Justice Department of her agency's toxic waste cleanup program, resigned Wednesday, the White House announced."
And with that simple paragraph, another chapter closed in the long, constitutional tug-of-war between the executive and legislative branches.
Whether she resigned on her own, as her statement said, or under pressure, this was probably Burford's finest hour. There is no doubt that it is in the best interests of the EPA that she leave, a fact which Burford acknowledged in her resignation
But as several congressmen and environmentalists said Wednesday, Burford's resignation does not the mean the end of the EPA's troubles or the president's.
It certainly came as no surprise that she eventually ran afoul of Congress and environmental groups. She worked for a man who advocated less strict
clean air and water standards and who had stated during his campaign for office — for the record — that most pollution came from plants and trees.
Although her downfall was brought about directly by the allegations that the EPA had entered into deals with corporations, exercised political favoritism in its cleanup targets and destroyed subpoenaed documents, those incidents were extreme examples of what many considered the administration's lack of regard for the environment.
The question now is whether the administration will replace Burford with someone who at least appears to be more sympathetic to environmental issues. John Hernandez, the EPA's deputy administrator and now acting director, is expected to continue in his former boss's footsteps.
As House Majority Leader Jim Wright of Texas put it, "It's my view that it isn't the individual that has to be changed, it's the attitude that has to be changed, and that has to come from a different source than Mrs. Burford."
President Reagan owes that change to the EPA — and to the nation.
Fighting for real Americans
'Things were lookin' dark down on the homestead. The wife was harping at me about her 'rights' and the kids done took to work with minorities down to the elementary school.
After I read in the papers about how America was goin' down the drain, and the government was a taxin' us all to the dickens, I knew there was just one thing I could do. I saddled up my best horse, loaded my shotgun, and started ridi'n' his dog. America, I was going to join a vigilante group.
Them people knew the score. They knew the government was evil, and they knew all our troubles came from minors and foreigners. Besides, ever since I got kicked out of high
BONAR MENNINGER
So I rode out the median strip of Interstate 70 with my hat pulled down low, I come up to a rest area. Then I ran off, and I was in a crossbar.
school I saw myself as an outlaw, like those guys on "Dukes of Hazzard." Yes sir, I was going to be a real important kind of guy, and really be a part of social change, is what they call it.
"Say," says I, "You know where I can locate a
uplategroup group." I want to be an American folk
band.
This fellow, he was one of them foreigners. He was staring at a newspaper and crying. He kept talkin' something about his countrymen and moaning kind of low. There was a picture of some dead folks in India or some damn place. I looked at the figure out what he was saying, so I kept riding.
Well, I traveled most of the afternoon and pulled up at this little town off the interstate. I had a powerful thirst a goin', so I stopped at a beer joint.
Tendin' bar was this Mexican lookin' little girl.
She was kind of a pretty thing, but she walked with a limp. She was watching the TV news, something about the pope being in El Salvador, and she wouldn't get me my beer. Then damned if she didn't start crying too, saying air mono or something and going off in Spanish when they showed a guy who got shot through the head. Well, I said to hell with this, and I got out of that joint.
As I was riding out of town I sped this lady sitting on her porch, so I went up to her.
"Affternoon, ma'ma, I was wondering if you knew where I could find me a vigilante group. I'm going to be a regular outlaw, just like Clint Eastwood!"
She was an older lady and she had this hollow look in her eye when she stared up at me. The way she looked, I don't mind tellin' you, it kind of gave me the spooks, 'cause she was staring at something real far away like. She didn't say a thing to me, so i tipped my hat real cordial and got on my horse. I was glad to get away from her to be honest with you.
I noticed something about her when I was walking away. She had a damned tattoo on her arm! Can you imagine? Only it wasn't a regular one, like "Mom," or "Born to Raise Hell," or anything like that, it was a string of numbers in a line.
Well I was getin' discouraged because I couldn't find a vigilante group to join up with, so I figured I'd make camp for the night past the edge of town.
Around dawn, I heard my horse whinny and I woke up. There was one of them long-haired hippies standin' over me and quick as a peacock I grabbed my 12-age and jumped to my feet.
"Do not be afraid, my son. There is nothing to fear." he says.
Well I figured this guy was out on LSD or somethin'.
"Don't you be callin' me son, boy. I'll like to whip you," says I. He was definitely on them drugs the ways his eyes were a glowin'.
"You must abandon hate, my friend," he says. "All men are brothers, and the kingdom of God is here if you only let it be. No man is your enemy. Love them as you would love yourself."
I started twitchin' my eye like i'd when I don't understand something, but this stranger was crowding me. I thought he could have been queer the way he was talking.
He reached out to touch me, and my 12-gauge barked. The stranger flew backwards and landed in the brush. I heard the sticks breaking as he rolled on the ground.
Before long, I knew he must be dead because he stopped moonin', so I threw his body over my horse and rode out of those woods. I reckoned that I would should be happy with me if I brought in this fella'.
Right then, I knew I was going to like being an outlaw. With all the evil in America, and all the ignorant cryin', crazy folk like I ran into on outcasts, I thought I had been going to have more than enough work to do.
KANSAN
The University Daily
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General Manager and News Adviser
At the risk of climbing atop a soapbox, I feel compelled to address a few of the "sterotypes"
Up to now, I have seen little interest, save for the tirades of the Kansan, on the part of minorities wishing to join house in the greek system. "Cute" columns like Bartel's are hardly examples of responsible journalists meeting educate the public about such delicate issues.
His analysis of the "stereotypes" of the Greek system is not consistent with his notion that responsible journalism is the forte of a student of print journalism. Such a profound statement does not belong in such a questionable piece of satire.
To the editor:
I think, but am not sure, that Matt Bartel's March 7 column, "Greek stereotypes not justified," was intended to be funny. I appreciate humor in a formal page, but some邦伯's piece falls short.
BANNER 2013
UNIVERSITY MET KANCHAN
Humor column on greeks not funny
Before casting stones at others for choosing whom they live with, the critic should first look across the room to his own roommate. If he be of a different race, I applaud that person's progressiveness. If not, he should lay down the stones.
The conclusion is apparently drawn that the fraternity-soriority system is racist. Granted, there is very little integration within the system, and the creeks" hardly have a monopoly on this problem
He also takes a stab at the supposed elitism of the grecks, pointing to the European sports cars that dot the front drives of various houses. Note however, that those vehicles back in the front scores of gas-guzzling 1970 vintage rust buckets in back in lots, safe from public scrutiny.
Letters to the Editor
Irresponsible? Hardly, Greek students are involved in countless organizations on campus and dominate the various honorary societies. Through these groups, they are able to actively contribute to the University's growth and are able have the opportunity to work with students, faculty and staff from all sectors of the University community Coupled with the limitless opportunities for leadership roles in their own houses, greeks have the unique opportunity to develop communication, organizational and leadership skills that no classroom experience can parallel. Contrary to the popular criticism, most Greeks at some time during their undergraduate years, take advantage of and benefit greatly from opportunities.
There are exceptions, of course, as any jaunt by the Mad Hatter on a Thursday night will attest, but then, there are also exceptions to that rule. The character's capacity, the capacity to present responsible comment.
Dal Bowers,
Omaha, Neb., law student
Dan Bowers, .
Positive points missed
When I saw the headline in Matt Baret's March 7 editorial about greets, I was encouraged, I thought the choice of certain KU students to join together in common interests and aspirations for their years at KU would finally gain some positive recognition on the pages of the Kansas. I was wrong. Once again the Greek system's contributions to philanthropies, scholarship (witness the greek GPA being consistently higher than the average), membership in a club, favor of a criticism of the mode of transportation and style of dress chosen by some members of fraternities and sororites. These are petty grounds on which to criticize a system which has contributed so much to KU and in which association, after all, is a matter of free choice.
To the editor:
Bob
John Andra,
Wichita sonhomore
Foreign fee unjustified
Attention, fellow Kanrans. Have your lives and education been significantly enriched with foreign students on campus? Do you value good international relations and goodwill towards Kansas throughout the world? Have you or has someone established a partnership in establishment that was patronized by foreign students, so that your own livelihood was partially provided by them?
To the editor
If so, and if you would like to help foreign students continue to receive equal treatment with other out-of-state students, now is the time to let your state senators and representatives know how you feel about a bill introduced by State Rep. George Dean, D-Wichita, which would cause foreign students to pay twice the usual out-of-state fees at KU. Such pettiness could be detrimental for our students'cussions than would be justified for the extra money that would be raised — providing that our foreign students did not make a mass exit for more prestigious schools at that price.
Margaret Scheirman.
Margaret Scherman,
Overland Park graduate student
Important story buried
To the editor:
I am outraged by the story buried on page 13 of the Feb. 24 Kansan about a KU woman who was abducted, beaten and possibly raped. Not only was such an important story hidden near the end of the paper, but the writer had the audacity not to mention the restaurant on 23rd Street where the student was kidnapped while unlocking her car door.
We are painted a horrible picture of crime that is of interest to all students to avoid, not just women, and then told that she was beaten and possibly raped Tuesday night, behind the claw machine, but she had been abducted in the parking lot of an unnamed open 23rd Street restaurant.
As a 181 KU journalism graduate and a TA helping Broadcast News II students, I am boiling with rage at the cowardice of the writer not to mention the “where” in the “who, what, when, where, why and how” that all journalism students know. They would like to know personally and to tell my friends (both men and women) where not to go to eat at night.
Just who's interests are the Kansan trying to serve?
Kevin Campbell.
Kevin Campbell Radio-TV-Film teaching assistant
Blacks kept down
To the editor:
In response to the letter by Leroy Mergor on south Africa (Kaguan March 3), I would like to thank you for your kindness.
First, this talk about reform amuses most of us who are black South Africans. How can we talk
I am surprised that Meryg does not recognize the fact that the "mass of illiterate blacks" is the work of the South African educational system. In contrast, I am aware that education, for those "illiterate blacks" it is not
free. If it was not for this system of discriminatory education, I am sure we would not have a "mass of illiterate blacks" in South Africa.
—the means are in the hands of the “white masters.” who refuse to use them.
It is an overstatement that it will take time to educate the black population. After all, there is no ongoing effort by the racist regime to educate the black population — except to make them puppets of the regime. The only people who can educate blacks then, are the black themselves. Right now we do not have the means to educate — the means are in the hands of the "white
The idea of comparing black South Africans with people of other nations or, in Merger's letter, Zimbabweans, is irrelevant. Black South Africans should be compared with people in their own country, namely whites. As far as governing issues are concerned, an African government, that is out of the question.
The point Merges make that South Africa will turn into another Uganda or Angola if radical change is adopted is another narrow-minded utterance the South African government uses to deter the spirit of revolution. It is also used to move West into supporting the white minority regime.
Paul Namibabu,
Johannesburg, South Africa, freshman
Martin letter ludicrous
I remember the person who tried to block the nuclear freeze referendum here in Lawrence not so long ago. Fortunately he was not able to get a judge to agree that this was outside the jurisdiction of the people of Lawrence who eventually endorsed the nuclear freeze by an overwhelming majority. The Feb. 25 letter to the Kansan by Douglas Martin seems to be in the same vein. He doesn't like Latin American Solidarity opposing further millions of dollars being sent to the Central American generalissimo in Guatemala his "formidable" longer spent for "ideological one-sidedness." He claims to support democracy in El Salvador even while he tries to孵a little free expression here at the University of Kansas. Even more luducrous, he implies that the current government in El Salvador is making an attempt to establish a "democracy."
Furthermore, just as with the nuclear freeze issue, the overwhelming majority of Americans recognize that the rhetoric about the Salvadoran government being one seeking to establish some sort of textbook democracy to be the same kind of democratic system years about the Saigon government in Vietnam.
Many polls have shown that the American people do not want American personnel or funds sent to the savages running El Salvador and even the president of the United States is compelled to try and circumvent congressional control. The president is forced to broaden the American intervention in Salvador.
Reagan would like to get this money if possible from an emergency contingency fund without going to the floor of Congress. Now with cutbacks in every decent and good program in the United States on go, it seems that Martin and others might better expel their moral fiber by questioning the undemocratic efforts of the federal government to impose military dictatorships in Central America with tens and hundreds of millions of our tax dollars.
I prefer to think that he would at least uphold the principles of Nuremberg and oppose those who commit the crimes condemned by them. These crimes were committed in Vietnam by the United States and so-called freedom-loving democracies. These same crimes are being perpetrated today with a much broader exposure once again with American money. The people of Central American will probably defeat their Hittites no matter how much the Reagan administration sends them. But I, for one, am glad that a few dollars may be spent by the Student Senate or anyone else to oppose this criminal intervention and cruel diversion of much needed millions into the pockets of Latin American dictators.
David Huet-Vaughn Leawood freshman