.
Opinion
Page 4 University Daily Kansan, November 16, 1981
Avoiding a 'next time'
The early morning Nov. 6 fire at Naismith Hall ended in talk of smoke and water damage, of arson squad investigations. There were no injuries to take stock of, or dead to count and tag.
Someone's prank—furniture set afire in an elevator—did not turn into homicide, though but for the quick reaction of some hall residents it might have. Had the burning furniture gone unnoticed for too long, the fire and dense smoke could have spread deep into the building, trapping and killing sleeping students.
Like the pipe bomb explosion in Naismith earlier this fall, the arson upped the ante of residence hall vandalism. For years, numerous false fire alarms have raised theire of hall officials and firefighters—and have frustrated students forced into the cold to wait for the "all clear."
If they haven't already, these incidents should force residence hall dwellers to question the safety of their brick and glass homes.
Who are the perpetrators, they should ask? Who are the homicidal thrill-seekers with no conception of the horror of a crowded, burning building? Even so-called "fire-proof" structures can kill with choking smoke from the building contents and insulation.
What about the hall's security? Is it impossible to prevent crazies from moving in and wreaking havoc? Are rules strictly enforced?
And, in light of recent complaints from fire officials that students who know more about the Naismith fire are not coming forward, residents should ask themselves whether they are doing their part to protect themselves.
The residence halls are convenient places to live, where facilities are close at hand and meals hot and regular. They are mini-communities, with attendant joys of camaraderie and friendship but also with the dangers of criminals within. Residents should be careful—and watchful.
Letters to the Editor
1965 Voting Rights Act needs protection from Reaganism
To the Editor:
Much of the legal underpinning of our nation's civil rights laws is in danger from the Reagan Administration and Congress. For several months the members of the House of Reporter have been hearing testimony on the most effective pieces of civil rights legislation of the '60s.
As evidenced by the tremendous jump of black voters in the southern states—from 7 percent to 67 percent between the years 1965 and 1975—it is clear that the Voting Rights Act should be extended as recommended by Sen. Edward Kennedy.
The main issue of the Voting Rights act is Section Five, requiring localities and states to file a "pre-clearance" with the federal government before any election. This section requires that the federal government give approval not only for redistricting, annexations and the switch to an at-large electoral system, but also for changes in voter registration hours.
One thing that the Reagan Administration has not made clear is that the Voting Rights Act requires states to have
At a time when the Reagan Administration is concentrating on eliminating the concept of the Big Brother (government), he should at least sympathize with the minorities of this country and retain the right to vote—in law—in the years to come.
Anthony Peay University City, Mo., sophomore Black Student Union vice president
A 'no' to handguns
To the Editor:
Kari Elliott's recent column (Nov. 5) on bandung control was an important commentary on the growing problem of handgun violence in America. I'm glad to see an article in favor of bandung control appear at a time other than when it was publicized killing or assassination attempt.
people need to be aware that the Great
Some conservatives suggest that the problem isn't handguns, but the people who use them. There are two points that come to mind that make this simplistic argument worthless. First of all, as Kari Elliott pointed out, last year there were 2,000 accidental deaths from hand guns found in the house, and there are no homicidias to blame for this needless loss of life.
American Handgun War goes on every day, even though the victims are not always public figures. We grieve when a hero or respected leader such as John Lennon or Robert Kennedy is slain by a deranged assassin, but the tens of thousands of other handgun victims each year deserve equal attention.
To protect us from ourselves, a national handgun control law needs to be passed. Stricter controls on the selling of handguns is, at the very least, needed, and a total ban on handguns could be a solution. A potential assassin could not conceal a larger weapon in public, and yet the person who feels the need to protect his home with a firearm could still do so with a bigger gun. The American military should not adopt self-shooting. If the Second Amendment is interpreted as granting everyone the right to have any kind of gun he wishes, then it simply should be changed.
Secondly, we can blame the criminal or deranged people in our society. But the fact is that we will always have these kinds of people who simply should not be allowed to saunter in and buy a gun, especially a concealable handgun. As our bizarre laws now stand, anyone can walk into a gun shop and buy a handgun with a minimum of trouble.
These arguments may sound old, and you've heard them all before, but these things need to be repeated until something is done. This isn't idle philosophizing.
By the way, where did you get this Don
Munday character? Is he a Second City TV cast
member?
Albuquerque, N.M., senior
Rick Gaston
Allure of 'sexv' dress is thin indeed
Well you sorority queens, you timid off-campus dwellers, you mousy dorm inhabitants, someone finally understands the real you.
Don't deny that each of you really contains a saveget expedition to waive its way to the
If you're willing to throw away your L. L.
Bean catalogues, forget you ever heard of
Talbois and enter into a new life working at
the truck stops, or "Dressing
Sexy" is for you.
In 15 easy chapters you too can become a sexy siren capable of making macho men.
But first this take test to see whether you're one of the millions of what authors Barbara Burdgurf and Sue Nirenberg call "dreary dressers."
Do you take out the trash wearing a housecap?
When you shop for a sexy bra, do you ask for it in a moist absorbent cups that don't irritate the tissues?
Are your highest heels less than three inches high?
Is your closet filled with beige, gray and dark, safe colors?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, your vibes may be saying. "Like me, but keep your distance. I'm not a risk taker, and don't think I fly with you to Paris for the weekend. Are you crazy?—we've only just met!"
Consider the sad story of the attic, after
the fire broke out, the family sent a
instruction. Beware it should happen to you.
The men at the party, however, paid scarcely any attention to her.
She was invited to a party teeming with attractive men - urbane, handsome, charming, intelligent, articulate, rich and eligible. After priming and preening for hours, her mirror said she was the sexiest person who ever went to a party.
She wondered what happened. Why weren't they men looking, staring, admiring and tearing up?
Suddenly, the temperature of the room shot up. A wishing woman slithered in looking at her.
"Sashing around in red silk pants and tossing her streaming mane all over the room like an animal in heat, she's what grandma said," he added. Wicked. And yet, alas, she was incredible.
'As much as you'd like to scream 'trash,'
CINDY
CAMPBELL
you can't. She's cool, confident and sensual.
. And you've feel utterly beige.
"You realize that this sexy dame—and dame she is—has power; is the kind who always gets what she wants. She's seated at the best table by the matre d'; the service station's attendant washes her windows and cleans her shoes; the cleaning is ready when she walks in the cleaner's door, the ice cream man on her corner remembers her favorite flavor ..."
Ah. To have such power.
At the expense of the millions of people who have fought against such blatantly sexist attitudes, any woman can spend $5.95 to transform herself into a humby. But why spend the money on the book? Why not just invest in a belt or seamed stockings with rhinestones?
Or why not do as Burgdorf and Nirenberg suggest? By following these rules, women are encouraged to take up leadership.
- If you seem to be sending out signals of competence and authority, revoke those
signals. After all, how can you flirt when
she's straight in the eye and he's
he's respecting you?
- "Never mind the pain!* Sexy shoes are
in light, open, bare—and very, very high
in the back.
"If you're seducing him in your apartment, explain that the man's bathrobe you have on belongs to your brother who just stayed with you on a visit from California. He won't believe you. Jealousy and competitive feelings will drive him insane with passion."
Such ridiculous ideas obviously grow out of the minds of women who have been victimized themselves. I pity the women who dress only to arouse the prudent interest in them.
Fashion is more than that. Fashion is a means of self-expression, and sad will be the day when women have no more on their minds than seductive men.
many women have chosen to move ahead in the world not by acting like blithering idiots and looking like tramps, but by enhancing their own abilities. Legions have been very successful, in fact, and they have the satisfaction of knowing they got ahead because of something far more important than a peekaboo bounce.
Burgdorf, however, questions how a woman could possibly do a good job wearing a conservative gray suit and a white blouse with a ribbon.
What do the two things have to do with each other? A woman will obviously do the same kind of job whether she's wearing gray wool or a white shirt. If you look at her, otherwise, usually male, workers that is important.
"If we have to de-womanize ourselves to get to the top then we haven't gained anything." Bianca
Well of course not, but it is attitudes like those behind "Dressing Sexy" that dewomanize females. There's more to sexiness than skin.
In response . . .
Groucho Marx Coalition offers own platform, self-defense
Editor's note: This column is in response to the Kansan's endorsement for student body president and vice president. Today the Groucho Mara Coalition of David Phillips for student body president and vice president responds. Tomorrow the Perspective candidate will provide their response.
By Kevin G. Yowell
We were very pleased the Kansan took the time to endorse a candidate in this year's student body election. Granted, they picked the wrong one, but the fact that the effort was made to overthrow it, and the fact that he was prelicated. We now understand the Senate is trying to punish the Kansan for showing interest in the elections. This represents the typical repressive attitude of the Senate. If the Senate did have a commitment to the democratic result this resolution would never have been initiated.
"I don't know what kind of president Adkins or Busby would make. They talk and talk. Either one would make a bellava wife."—Groucho Marx, from the "Essential Works of Marx."
This Senate action constitutes an abridgment of the Kanan's freedom of the press, and presents to KU students a most glaring example of why the Senate must be changed now.
The Groucho Marx Coalition applauds the effort of any party to become involved in the elections, not just those who share our viewpoint. Candidates Adkins or Bush (who by virtue of three years experience in this very Senate are thirty personified) must not win this election,
lest repression remain rewarded and involvement continue to be punished.
A vote for Adkins or Busby can only mean a vote for the perpetuation of the same stale, ineffective and laughably unrepresentative form of student government we have been forced to live with for too long. Stop this cycle of incompetence.
Involvement is the cornerstone of the G.M.C. Unfortunately, some people do not feel it is important to bring new ideas to a state system of government. They see our lack of Senate executive power as a reason they can't be blamed for the ineffectiveness of the Senate; our opponents cannot make this claim.
Mr. Busby's campaign has been characterized by mud-binging. A common political saying goes: He who slings mud loses ground. Hopefully this will result in his meeting the aforementioned fate.
One of Busy's comments is that we are a joke coalition. To this we ask: Which coalition is really a joke? The one who obtained 500 signatures of KU students to get on the ballot in 2014 was elected five minutes before the deadline, without having meet the petition requirement (his).
The Groucho Marx Coalition has attempted to bring a bit of humor and interest to the usually monotonous elections. Unfortunately our opponents have not acted in the same good faith.
Busy's late filing and campaign conduct lead us to believe his role in the election is not that of a serious candidate, but rather serving as the "batchet man" for candidate Adkins.
Mr. Adkins has refrained from publicity attacking our coalition, and why shouldn't he?—
since Busy seems happy to fill this role for him. But this does not mean Adkins has divested himself from all irregularities in his election. He has allowed the most blatant conflict of interest in the history of student government to remain as a news sinker on KU's campus news show.
When Ronald Reagan ran for president his old movies could not be shown on television. Yet Adkins continues not only to appear on TV, but in a role that presents him as an expert on University events. If he had been serious about participating in a fair campaign, Adkins would have resigned this position when the matter was first called to his attention.
And to the most vicious charge, that we are importing illegal aliens for the sole purpose of stuffing the ballot box, we respond hogwash. It just a coincidence that there are a thousand Mexican nationals on camera calling for the release, which is limited to the phrases “I lost my papers” and “Vote Groucho.”
And now, the unequivocal reason to vote Groucho: We have a cabinet. This is a necessary element of an administration that our opponents seem to have overlooked. We have a treasurer. He's had accounting for all the budget of Agriculture. His great uncle was a farmer. We have a Secretary of Defense. His brother has loaned him his old ROTC uniform for the duration of the campaign. And, foremost, we have a Secretary of Humor - Ed Muscare of KCT TV's "All Night Live" fami The only celebrity endorsement of this campaign is the one of courses it went to the Groucho Marx Coalition.
Finally, there a malignancy in the Student
Senate. A cancer that will not turn benign simply from being ignored. Of course we speak of the lack of military preparedness at KU. We propose to buy AWACS for our defense, and not just because it's fashionable. We want an MX missile in the campanile. To care for our armaments we'll get the facilities operations people to quit and take care of them. Then prepareations for the impending nuclear holocaust with the purple threat from Manhattan.
How will we pay for these new weapons?
Simple. In the spirit of the people's mandate for federal austerity and less government, we adhere to the constitution of the costly and liberal arts department.
We will elaborate on our military proposals and explain how we can bring a national football championship to KU in our first year in office—at the debate Monday night at 7.
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