.
Opinion
Page 4 University Daily Kansan, September 28, 1981
A plea to the people
Americans were extremely curious to hear what their president would have to say to them last Thursday night.
There he was, ensconced behind his broad desk in the Oval Office, giving another rally-'round-the-flag speech and urging his fellow citizens to support his attempts to lead the country out of its "economic swamp." Once, while telling one of his "that-reminds-me" stories, he even winked at the audience.
Those viewers already feeling the pinch of substantial budget cuts (even the "truly needy" often own televisions, so the just plain "needy" surely do, too) probably weren't flattered, nor fooled, by that wink. More likely they were sickened to learn that their leader wanted to cut federal spending by another $13 billion.
Congressmen should have been dismayed as well. They were being asked to shave still more from domestic
programs while the U.S. defense budget coated by virtually unscatched. A senior administration official has said, "There was never any commitment on our part to seek funding" at the ceiling level previously authorized in the congressional reconciliation bill. Surprise, surprise.
Reagan must sense a difficult fight ahead. He already has had to back away from his proposed cutbacks in the Social Security program, and he still can't get the "chicken littles" on Wall Street to cooperate. Obviously, it is time to go back to the people and muster popular support.
The problem is that the support is not unwavering. A poll published last week indicates that Reagan's personal popularity remains high with the public, but that there is a growing discontent over his economic policies. Soon, the two will cease to be separate entities and no story-telling is going to remedy that.
Coaches see troubled waters for swimming. other sports
It's finally happened. Sports are pricing their way out of existence.
Last May, KU lost Bill Spahn, one of the best swimming coaches in the country. Spahn left to coach at the University of New Mexico, in part because the opportunity arose but mainly because he felt he didn't have much of a future at KU.
And why should he? Only five swimming. Oklahoma State Big Eight still have swimming. Oklahoma State
CINDY CAMPBELL
University, the University of Colorado and Kansas State University all dropped their programs for both men and women because of lack of funds.
The writing on the wall indicates that KU, the University of Missouri and the University of Oklahoma also may follow suit. KU already dropped men's and women's gymnastics after the 1979-80 season because of financial problems. And as the financial belt is tightened further, many coaches say swimming programs across the country will be dropped.
"I loved it there at Kansas and I felt good about our program," Spahn said last week in a
Spain said that because swimming was a successful program, it shouldn't have been cut so much. In the four years that Spain was head coach, he won two Big Eight championships and produced at least two outstanding swimmers: Steve Grazes, who was the 1979 Big Eight Swimmer of the Year and Ron Nugent, who transferred from Southern Methodist University after his freshman year and went on to swim on the 1980 U.S. Olympic team.
"The bottom line is money," Spahi said. "If you're a non-revenue sport, it doesn't matter."
"The whole situation of collegiate sports is so out of proportion," Spahn said. "Everybody thinks you have to spend so much money to be successful. Football and basketball recruiting has to be done so you spend the money in the major sports so they'll win and bring back money for everyone else."
The 1979-80 KU football team alone overspent
its $1.3 million budget by $125,000 which is almost twice what it costs to fund men's swimming for an entire year.
"Here at New Mexico," Spahn said, "we have a total budget approximate to that of Kansas and we yet have 23 sports as opposed to KU's 16. But we're encouraged to earn money for our sports. We couldn't at KU because of the way the Williams Fund is set up."
The Williams Fund raises funds for all KU sports, but the money is used strictly for scholarships. There is no fund here to raise money for team travel or equipment, and coaches are discouraged from soliciting donations for their own sports.
Not all Big Eight schools have the same rules, however.
Mike Burt, coach of both men's and women's swimming teams at the University of Oklahoma, has raised about $9,000 for his team so far this year and has a 70-member booster club. When he started the club in August he had a goal of 100 members.
Many coaches of non-revenue producing sports also are worried about the College Football Association's proposed $180 million television contract with NBC. The contract is in direct conflict with the NCAA's proposed contract with ABC and CBS television. So it is possible that many or all of the CFA schools, of which the Big Ten is a member, would be NCAA. The Association sets the minimum number of sports to qualify for division one football at 16, eight for men and eight for women.
If the CFA package is passed and KU leaves the NCAA, it is quite possible that the minimum number of sports required to qualify for division one football would be decreased. Spahn thinks the swimming programs will be the hardest hit in such a situation.
Burt agreed.
"If the CFA goes through, my swimming, made up of about 20 athletes, would probably be the first to go. No one right now except football, secure right now. The athletes are really secure right now," he said.
The precarious position in which non-revenue sports are suspended is a sad one. Though football and basketball produce revenue, they also spend it. And KU will continue to lose coaches if the purse strings aren't tightened on the revenue-producing sports as well.
KU football is important to the students, faculty, alumni and the state of Kansas. But is it really worth the $1.3 million dollars it takes to run the program?
The line has got to be drawn somewhere. Without the ability to help raise supplemental funds, the future of non-revenue producing sports at KU looks very grim indeed.
4oe Bautos '81
KU's charm finds national spotlight
"As the sun swings over the valleys of the Kaw and Wakarua rivers, the big Midwestern sky glows redder than the red-tile roofs of the University of Kansas."
Thus writes Jeff Copion, describing our beloved alma matter in the August edition of Travel and Leisure magazine. You probably know that Eudora's work is the leasure to travel much beyond Eudora?
Coplon's look at Lawrence is public relations gone mad. The campanile chimes Bach or Barchacch, he writes, while a shaggy-haired child casts a line into Potter Lake. Meanwhile, according to Coplon, we students, we find ourselves in lanes in shading tranquility and with a sense of wholeness—presumably to outstanding earth-zone architecture.
You'd think you were in Arcadia, not on Mount Oread.
'Cmon, Coplon. Do you really think the shaggy-haired kid is going to land a three pound bass in Potter Lake? More likely, it'll be a Uniroyal that snags his line.
What's more, Coplon must have blinked during his tour of Jayhaw Boulevard. Where is the mention of the concrete bomb shelter, Wesco Hall? If anything, unamel-like on this
But regardless of its accuracy, Travel and Leisure has opened the floodgates.
I have no doubt that other leading publications descend on KU to discover their ally.
And I'm going to be ready for them. When they arrive at Lawrence International, I'll show them whatever their readers want to see, and I'll show them how honest he put on, after all, I'm a journalist.
My guess is that 'other high-brow periodicals will not be long in coming. A leading newspaper of a major city.'
Lawrence's widely-acclaimed "Restaurant
(Her in River City, we locals call it
23rd Street)
Rivaled perhaps only by the Champs Elysees of Fifth Avenue, Restaurant Row features fine ethnic dining. Quaint Mexican eateries with authentic-sounding names—Taco John's, for instance—serve up dishes you just won't will keep you running for more. I guarantee it.
Not to be outdone by the Down-Southers,
Restaurant Row also tours excellent Italian
DAVID
HENRY
and American cuisine. Whatever establishment you choose, you can't go wrong. Due to popularity, however, reservations are advisable, particularly at the more exclusive family-crowded eateries, 'Colonel Sanders' and Carol Lee Donuts.
Staff writers from Mother Earth News are likely to be winging their way into town, too.
And why not? Lawrence is one of the few people can still enjoy the Natural Life Experience.
Separated from those of us lost sheep who insist on eating at Dot's Steak House, these women are a staple for the week.
They're often seen in old Volkswagen buses with "Split Wood, Not Atoms" and "Support Legalized Midwifery" bumper stickers plastered on the back. Their clothes and hair ties would be suggestive of Humphreykis, had he fallen asleep in Berkeley, 1906kis.
The Granola-tales also tend to ally themselves with unpopular political and social causes. You may, for instance, remember last spring's "Diet for El Salvador" in front of the building where one was no longer fooled by this activity. After all, *swainut weather* was just around the corner.)
The diet, in fact, would thrill the hearts of loyal Mother Earth News readers. Although to many of us, large, naked, raw carrots are acceptable only for furry creatures awaiting Easter, the Lawrence Granola-ites believe cooked food is dead food.
They have a hundred ways of preparing bran, each more ghastly than the last. They drink apple juice with dinner and consume overly chewy brown rice. And along with victims of natural disasters, they smack their lins at a plate of sovebans.
Lastly, I'm rooting for the most prestigious of magazine visitors, National Geographic, long known for documenting exotic flora and fauna. Lawrence's large population of Homo fraternus, crudely known as Fratus ratus, deserves further study.
Why, for instance, does the species segregate itself by sex, meeting together only at common watering holes — younger fledglings at the Wheel and the adults at the Hatter? Is it the moon or the change of season when they eat grass? Are islanders cowboys or plantation owners and drink to excess? And finally, is that funny little alligator a secret mating signal?
I'm sure you now agree with me that the University of Kansas is prime for national recognition by such members of the mass media. Undoubtedly, you can think of many other possibilities. Write your favorite magazines and let them know.
As for me, I'll be at the airport, awaiting our guests with tacos, tofu and an iod.
Letters to the Editor
Examples of sacrifice should come from top
To the Editor:
Dear Nancy Reagan.
It was heartwarming to witness your response to the Iowa mother's poignant letter. We can well understand why it would bring tears to your eyes.
Our letters to the White House seem to evoke response in the form of impersonal, massive language.
This letter is extremely difficult to write. We are overwhelmed by the recent decisions of this
administration and underwhelmed by our ability to make our concerns heard.
We understand the dilemma the administration faces as crucial issues must be dealt with constantly. It was, therefore, quite heartening that the President, at his recent appearance at the Republican Party Women's Foundation, can read the touching letter from the low mother.
Doubtless, there are millions of touching letters that would merit be read, yet each little drama can hardly be given national attention. We would, however, like to take advantage of this tender moment to focus your attention on just one of our deep concerns.
The attached article (about KU's special education department budget cuts) is taken from the University of Kansas publication, the University Daily Kansan, of Sept. 16. It is but one striking illustration of the consequences of this administration's priorities . . . this brings tears to our eyes. Mrs. Reagan. There has to be great concern for all handicapped children and countless unborn children who will face the same handicaps. How will they survive, let alone compete, in an environment that emphasizes the survival of the fittest?
This administration, in order to reduce government spending is encouraging the students to take responsibility for vital social programs. We question just how realistic this noble idea can be.
Mrs. Reagan, we have read with interest and interest the advice of the "private sector" for your own support of the "private sector" for your own
projects, such as redecorating sections of the White House, purchasing china, etc. Please understand that we, like millions of Americans, pride in the beauty and legacy of our White House.
We, like millions of Americans, are willing to "tighten our belts," "conserve energy" and "give up a few luxuries" as a display of our patriotism. We are fortunate that, unlike some other Americans, we have not been faced with any further sacrifices such as our jobs, schooling or health care. It is our feeling that the same effort on sacrifice should not be made at the top.
Wouldn't it be wonderful, Mrs. Reagan, if you as first lady of the land, would again rally the support of your friends in the "private sector" for a project such as the survival of the University of Kansas' special education department or any other such worthwhile cause? You can do that with a special education budget has been cut by more than $200,000. We have read that your friend's "the private sector" were able to amass more than $200,000 for new White House china.
*Can you firstly encourage your leadership as first lady in such projects would be?*
Mrs. Reagan, we need much more than locker room peep talks . . . we need examples.
Sincerely,
Irene Moskowitz
Barb Friedmann
Prairie Village residents
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