. 4 Wednesday, September 21, 1988 / University Daily Kansan THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Shirts entertaining,but message irresponsible Some KU students and a downtown merchant have sent Dick and Jane, the stars of the classic (and archaic) learn-to-read books, off on a dangerous misadventure. Opinion Dick and Jane have been busy lately. No longer are they confined simply to playing with Spot the dog and Fluff the kitten. T-shirts and sweatshirts where we can "see" them have been popping up all over campus in the past few years. all over campus. Dick has been tapped for important issues. Dick has been used in the campaign against drunken drank on a shirt that says, "See Dick drink. See Dick drive. See Dick die. Don't be a Dick." That's one of the reasons why a recent Dick and Jane adventure, on T-shirts printed and sold at Jayhawk Spirit Ballfour House, 983 Massachusetts St., and worn all over campus, is particularly offensive. campus is "particular" a stick-figure Dick or Jane that says "The shirt was worn on a Club Week 1988" on the front. On the back they read "See Dick Drink. See Dick drunk. See Dick happy. See Dick survive Country Club Week 1988 (sort of)." survive County Ohio well too. Some may find that humorous. The designer apparently did. The shop owners apparently did. The people who bought them apparently did. But even a beginning reader could read the message between the lines on that shirt. It's a message that any adult with a first-grader's maturity could see potentially is dangerous. years, the beats in them next chapter in the adventures of Dick and Jane. Just read "The Joy of Jayhawk Spirit cancel plans to print more shirts. See people who have bought the shirts wise up to the problems of equating excessive drinking to fun." Even better would be, "See all the drunk Dick shirts across Lawrence thrown away." first-gradeer's main goal is Making fun of an effort to promote awareness about the dangers of driving is bad enough. But by linking emotions to happiness, the shirts promote the attitude that leads to the problems related to alcohol. Health problems. Emotional problems. Family problems. And in the last few years, the deaths of several KU students. Lawrence blamed. Of course, in a free society, people can promote and sell the more moralistic and harmful ideas. But anyone should see that saying, "Drink, Dick, drink" is the same as saying "Die, Dick, die." And that's dumb, dumb, dumb. Michael Merschel for the Editorial Board Greenbacks vs. greenhouse Which is more important: Larger, more powerful cars or an increase in global warming? That is what the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration must decide in setting the corporate average fuel economy standard. NHTSA took public comment last week on a proposal that wighten fuel-economy standards from 26.5 The fuel-economy law sets a maximum level of fuel consumption automakers' passenger cars must meet. The standard was adopted in 1975 to reduce imported petroleum consumption at a time when fuel prices were skyrocketing. Environmentalists predict that looser fuel-economy standards will contribute to global warming. Man-made emissions of carbon dioxide trap heat in the atmosphere and cause the phenomenon known as the "greenhouse effect." this phenomenon causes changes in weather patterns and crop growth and increases sea levels from polar melting. Some scientists attribute this summer's scorching heat and droughts to the greenhouse effect. to me greenhouse gas emissions. Mons Corp, however, has decided that consumers want to drive bigger, more powerful cars that spew large, unnecessary amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Or does GM just not want to lose money? OF does GM just not want to sell cars. If the standard is set at 27.5 mpg, GM says it would cut back on large-car production because consumers would buy from foreign automakers that have different standards. The Natural Resources Defense Council says that automobiles account for 25 percent of U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide. The Energy Conservation Council says that automobiles account for 6.5 mg per mile and carbon dioxide emissions by about 1.6 tons, or 4 percent. Tightening fuel-economy standards is common sense. GM's greedy big-business stance is almost as polluted as our planet, growing in the wake of corporate America: When it can't stand the heat, it just rolls up the windows and turns on the air conditioner. Christine Martin for the editorial board News staff Todd Cohen ... Editor Michael Horak ... Managing editor Julie Adamez ... Associate editor Stephen Wade ... News editor Michael Merschel ... Editorial editor Noel Gerdos ... Campus editor Craig Anstaff ... Sports editor Dave Bergegall ... Photo editor Dave Eames ... Graphics editor Jill Jess ... Art&Feature editors Jill Elmen ... General manager, news adviser Business staff Greg Knipp Business manager Debra Cole Retail sales manager Chris Cooper Company sales manager Linda Prokop National sales manager Hart Messner Hunt Promotions manager Sarah Hidgon Marketing manager Brad Lenhart Production manager Michelle Gartland Assist production manager Michael Leham Classified manager Sales and marketing adviser Letters should be typed, double-spaced and less than 200 words and must include the writer's signature, name, address and telephone number. 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Student membership is $75. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the University Daily Kansan, 118 Stuart-Fell Hall, Lawn, Kan. 60405 YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK : CONGRESS STARTS THE DAY WITH THE PLEDGE But the books can stay all night Dorm visitation rules take hassle out of balancing study, fun A girl I know was at my apartment Friday. She had driven 160 miles to see me, and we stayed up late talking. About midnight the telephone rang. "10:10." It was Will B. Chaste, a friend of mine who attends Boston University. "I was just taking a study break," said Will. "So I thought I'd call." I though I was a night studying? I said, surprised by the oxymoron. "What's gotten into you?" "Haven't you followed the changes at BU?" Will ask. "An angry parent wrote a complaint, John R. Sibar, and complained that her daughter's roommate's boyfriend had been living in their dormitory." "Siber, bless his heart, plowed through the objections of the immanual majority, and as a result of that one letter initiated strict controls on visits by members of the opposite sex in BD room bases. "in the name of civility, visitors are now allowed in dorm rooms only from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and until 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday." Derek Schmidt Staff columnist "That's pretty strict." I said. that's pretty good." replied Will, president of BU's Club for Passive People. "Now we get much more studying done. We don't have to worry much about balancing that social stuff with academics; the university has taken care of that for us. Of course, all-night cramming is a problem here. Most of us have a class are the opposite sex, but that's a small price pay for BU's new moral atmosphere." I was beginning to see the light. Will continued, "Of course, some people are protesting the new system," he said. "One student official called the new policies a 'violation of personal and moral freedom.'" "Bat President Silber responded, '1 think Mr and Mrs. America are sick and tired of institutionalized degeneracy.' He's pretty sharp, huh "' "I see your point," I said, wondering how Mr. and Mrs. America would like living in BU's sexually segregated atmosphere "Freedom is slavery, isn't it?" that's really the bottom line," said Will, growing excited. "I don't have to think and make judgments anymore. BU does it all for me. It's just like the one never happened. You should try it this way." "KU students are too independent," I said. "It wouldn't work here." wolven I work here." "Sure it will," replied Will. "If it could happen at BU, it could happen anywhere. I have to go to study now." I hung up up the phone. How did you put the phone? "Who was that?" asked the girl in my apartment. ment. But I couldn't answer. Will's words had left too "Mom," I said, "you have to go." Darek Schmidt is an independence junior majoring in journalism. K·A·N·S·A·N MAILBOX Gun vote wrong Neps, Jim Slattery's, Pat Roberts' and Bob Whitaker's decisions to vote against the proposed national seven-day waiting period for handcuffed Thursday. Wednesday were most unaffected ones. factories one. A spokesman from Slattery's office said the reprehension decided gun control legislation best left to individual states. Of course, handguns can be transported across state lines. Recent history offers a telling example of the effects of this phenomenon. John Hincek抱 a handgun in a pawnbag in Texas, where all one has to do to get a gun is pay for it. Then he went to Washington, D.C., with a strict handgun control, and shot President Reagan, a Secret Service agent, James Brady and a police officer. James Braychuck. Hickey lie on his purchase application. The couple have been caught — and a senseless tragedy prevented — had there been a waiting period in Texas. washing room, once a day waiting period would give police time to check criminal and psychiatric records. Maryland, which has a similar law, caught 753 criminals trying to buy guns in 1986, California, which also requires a waiting period, reported 1,315 such cases in the same year. One is safe when some states refuse to act responsibly to prevent dangerous weapons from getting into the wrong hands. gun smugglers buy guns in states with loose restrictions and ship them to eager drug gangs in states with more stringent laws. Reports show that known criminals and drug traffickers are permitted to buy handguns over the counter in our nation, simply because there is no legislation in place to prevent them from doing so. Chris Sirom prPerflevel the central government has a responsibility to protect the people of all states. Jim Slattery's, Pat Roberts' and Bob Whittaker's refusals to do so are grave disappointments. Chris Siron Overland Park junior Issues avoided It seems there has been a "kill" in the presidential campaign. Unfortunately, this is contributing to the omnipresentpathy that affaits U.S. politics. People must be made aware of the high stakes in this year's election. If one were to only listen to the Bush Republicans the stokes might seem trivial. This is because the real stakes to disassemble the real issue of campaign 88. Tmr far, George Bush's tactics have included impounding Mike Dukes' patriotism over the false pledge of Allegiance matter as well as the non-issue of the turmoil in Iraq. "What does he do? Doesn't tell people is that Reagan approved and followed exactly the same program in California, as have 22 other states. What Bush is doing is diverting the public's attention from the real issues in the campaigned which are: Which one can be done by the trade deficit. What can be done about lowering the federal regulation. What can be done to improve and strengthen the 'U.S. economic base. Getting the Pentagon to provide more defense for our hard-earned tax dollars. Obviously, Bush does not want to discuss these problems, because all of these problems have become more serious under the Reagan-Bush administration. These Bush-Republicans tactics are designed to give the people "critical information" intelligently to the people about the real issues. Douglas E. Johnston Wichita junior President, KU Democrats Exhausting buses I am a junior at the University of Kansas and think it is about time I spook up in concern not only the health of the students and faculty but also of the overall upkeep of our campus and the During the last few years, we noticed how loud and during the buses are at the University. Recently, they seem to have gotten worse. The fumes and smoke from their exhaust systems make it impossible to breathe when you unluckily are stuck driving behind them. This is not half as bad as when you are walking beneath them. Maybe the passenger and driver cannot see an airplane and smoke that is in front when they start, stop or shift gears. To comprehend what I am saying, try standing on Wesco Beach for half an hour. It is not pleasant. pulsant. either should get these modes of transportation fixed and in good working order or dispose of them altogether. It will soon come down to either a campus (full of healthy individuals) and a green environment or diesel smoke clouds. The decision is ours. Keven McDonald Overland Park Junior BLOOM COUNTY by Berke Breathed