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Tuesday, August 29, 1989 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Fraternities make positive steps in eliminating hazing
Confined in a car trunk with two other people and a supply of alcohol, Chuck Stenzel was instructed that he could only get out when the mass quantity of alcohol had been consumed. When the trunk door was lifted, several hours later, Stenzel was dead.
Stenzel's death, diagnosed as alcohol poisoning, was a result of what was intended as a harmless fraternity rite at New York's Alfred University in 1978.
Although fraternity hazing is a problem that still plagues colleges across the country, some fraternities are taking steps to eliminate the process, which has claimed more than 50 lives over the past 10 years. On Tuesday, the executive vice president of Tau Kappa Epsilon announced it had ended hazing in its fraternal organization. Last week, the national social fraternity of Zeta Beta Tau said it was eliminating the pledge period, which separated members from newcomers.
The recent actions of TKE and ZBT are commendable and set admirable precedents for other fraternities to follow. However, more needs to be done.
Lance Anderson, the president of the University of Kansas chapter of Kappa Sigma, said the action of TKE and ZBT marked a trend, but hazing would not cease to exist. His comments indicate that hazing is a widespread problem that is deeply entrenched in the fraternity system.
Proponents of pledgeship believe the process establishes pride in the fraternity and a sense of commitment to its ideals. Fraternities must enforce a more constructive form of pledge education which complements the experience of the pledge as well as benefits the existence of the house.
Hazing, which feasts upon the humiliation of an individual and poses life-threatening circumstances, should not be permitted in any fraternity, or in society.
The hundreds of young men who represent their fraternities as pledges this fall have a great opportunity to benefit their respective houses as well as explore the endless avenues of KU campus activities. Let us hope none of them experience the fraternity system as Chuck Stenzel did.
Thom Clark for the editorial board
Tenants should use rights
Student tenants have been gouged by Lawrence landlords for too long.
For years, Lawrence's housing market has belonged to the seller. Unscrupulous landlords took advantage of the effects of scarce housing and most tenants' ignorance of their legal rights.
Tenants do have rights. The rental business in Kansas is governed by the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. As the name implies, the law defines the rights and responsibilities of each.
While many states have adopted similar statutes, courts in Kansas have interpreted the act to grant more protections to tenants than to landlords. All tenants should take advantage of those protections.
According to the act, landlords cannot retaliate — by rent increase, service decrease or eviction — against a tenant who complains about the condition of an apartment.
Tenants should be picky when they complete inventories of new apartments. Landlords will be picky when tenants check out, and any damage not listed on the inventory will be deducted from the security deposit, regardless of whether the damage occurred before the tenant moved in.
Unless tenants agree, landlords cannot arbitrarily add new rules after a lease has been signed.
Apartments must be maintained in compliance with local building and housing codes. Substandard electrical wiring, plumbing or any other deficiency must be corrected by the landlord within a reasonable amount of time.
Running water and hot water must be supplied. Heat and adequate ventilation must be supplied. Trash receptacles and removal must be provided.
Tenants who think their apartments do not meet city code can call the city housing and environmental inspector to arrange for an inspection. If the inspector finds violations, the landlord has 14 days to bring the apartment into compliance. If necessary repairs are not made, tenants can legally break their contracts.
Student tenants who have disputes with their landlords should make appointments to consult with an attorney at Legal Services for Students. The service is free to students.
Ric Brack for the editorial board
News staff
David Stewart ... Editor
Ric Brack ... Managing editor
Daniel Nieml ... News editor
Candy Niemann ... Planning editor
Stan Diel ... Editorial editor
Jennifer Corser ... Campus editor
Elaine Sung ... Sports editor
Laura Nunase ... Photo editor
Stephen Kline ... Graphics editor
Christine Winner .. Art/Features editor
Tom Eblen ... General manager, news adviser
Business staff
Linda Prokop ... Business manager
Debra Martin ... Local sales director
Jerre Medford ... National sales manager
Eric Hughes ... Creative director
Mall Lowe ... Marketing director
Tami Rank ... Production manager
Carrie Staninka ... Asst. production manager
Margaret Townsend ... Co-op sales manager
Claire Duncan ... Charitable fundraiser
Jeanne Hines ... Sales and marketing adviser
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Students sound off through Senate
Editor's Note: B. Jake White is the student body president for the 1988-90 school year.
The voice of the student is heard at the University of Kansas.
Student Senate committees are the sounding board for the student.
Every student at KU gives $28 each semester to Student Senate from fee payment. This means $1.3 million of student money is allocated by Senate each year.
Many may ask, "Where does this money go?" Students involved in Senate committees and Uni-
ties may ask, "What is the purpose of these funds?"
In the past, Senate has provided services such as Legal Services for Students, which is celebrating its 10th year of free legal counsel for students. The bus system, KU on Wheels, provides transportation for students to campus and the Lawrence community. It also was initiated by a previous Senate.
These programs, which often are taken for grants, and the direct efforts of students who have volunteered in these programs.
Senate today faces new issues and concerns that need to be addressed by this year's student government.
B. Jake White
Guest columnist
Senate committees represent a diversity of
student interests. There are six standing committees: Finance, Student Rights, Cultural Affairs, Minority Affairs, University Affairs and Elections. In addition, there are several Senate boards such as Associated Students of Kansas, Transportation Board and Jawhawk Course Source to name a few.
Each spring, students elect a student body president, a student body vice president and student senators to represent the voice of students to the University administration and the Board of Regents. For this voice to be heard, more than just elected representatives need to get involved.
The time and dedication put forth by individuals, senators and non-senators, may go unnoticed at times. However, by becoming involved in the student government system, students are quick to appreciate the diligence of these student representatives and realize the impact the entire student government can make at KU.
Applications now are available to students who would like to serve on Student Senate Committees or University Boards. These applications, which are due Friday, are available in the Senate office.
410 Kansas Union, or at tables on Wescoe Beach.
By becoming involved in the committee structure, students have a direct voice in student government. At the same time, students get the chance to interact with each other and share their views and opinions. Students' input is vital to the success of this representative government.
I realized the value of Student Senate committees when I first became involved with the University Affairs Committee. For example, there was a problem at KU because scholarships were unknown and unused by qualified students. The time required for students to look for scholarships in several books discouraged them. The committee researched the situation and instituted a computerized scholarship search program. This service will be available to students at the end of September in the Student Financial Aid office.
It is likely that Senate is not an organization that will be appealing to every student; however, there are more than 400 other registered student organizations on KU's campus. These clubs and groups represent various hobbies, sports and other aspects of student life.
Although a student's main emphasis is placed on academics, I believe it is also important to test one's ideals and values out of the classroom as well. By actively participating in extra-curricular activities, a student's education here at KU is enhanced and becomes more valuable.
> B. Jake Wale is a North Platte, Neb., senior majoring in political science.
Jailing bad parents is not so wrong
A little ol' ordinance adopted by a city council at Dermott, Ark., is the hottest national news since the advent of mandatory jail sentences for drunk driving. The city attorney who drafted the law, Charles Sidney Gibson, is suddenly a hot TV property. Look for him on Geraldo's show anytime now.
the why fuss? Because Dermott (population 4,700) proposes to actually do something about a chronic crisis that has other and bigger loyalties scratching their heads and shuffling their feet, even if they call it Analyzing the Problem and Looking for Root Causes.
The problem is youth crime, and what Dermott proposes to do about it is hold parents responsible. It's a shocking idea in post-Puritan America. In this age, parents have become to juvenile delinquency what no-shows are to the airlines. Ask any teacher about the number of parents who don't show up for conferences when their kid is failing. Ask any judge about parents who don't show in court when the kid gets into bigger trouble. The no-shows are getting to be the rule rather than the
Paul Greenberg
Syndicated columnist
exception.
Dermott set out to make parents show — and to show them to others. After the little town's crime rate tripled this summer, and immediately after a near-riot complete with firearms drew a crowd of 250, Dermott's city council imposed a curfew for minors from 11 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Those who violate it may be arrested and held until a parent or guardian takes responsibility for them. After one warning, parents of curfew violators may be fined up to $500 and jailed up to 30 days. What caught the nation's attention was the provision that parents could also be put on public view in a stockade for six hours a day — and have their name and picture put in the paper with the caption, "Irresponsible
Parent or Custodian "
If Dermott's city council did wrong, at least it did something. It didn't just go "tsk, tsk," and talk about building more recreation facilities someday. Its politicians didn't just shrug and go their way, complaining that the newspaper never prints anything positive. At least they paid attention -- and drew the attention of others.
Dermott, Ark., is not the only town in the country where bands of unsupervised young people go prowling after midnight. Dermott made the news only because it took dramatic action.
This isn't New York's Central Park or some crack-ridden neighborhood in the nation's capitol. This is Dermott, Ark., and one reason its city council acted so promptly and dramatically was to make certain that it doesn't become one of those places everybody has given up on. A lot of residents in New York and Washington might wish their local authorities might act as quickly and decisively.
Paul Greenberg is a syndicated columnist.
A drug war wages in our backyard
Earlier this year, a woman was walking on a main throughfare in a suburb north of Chicago.
She and her husband have been my friends for 30 years. They are two of the most civilized people I've ever known. I never heard either of them say a cruel word about anyone.
The woman didn't reach the restaurant. She was found near an alley, bleeding from severe head wounds. Someone had apparently struck her with a blunt instrument.
She died a few weeks later. Because she never regained consciousness, we can't be certain what happened. But it isn't hard to figure
The odds are that the blow came from a professional criminal group, their professional crime goods, their trade no suspicion.
It's happening in Chicago, Washington, New York, Cleveland, Detroit and just about every other middle-to big-size city. It has slapped over the quieter neighborhoods and into out some suburbs.
And what's being done? Well, in Washington, the center of America's journalistic-governmental hot-air industry, they are fighting with words. President Bush's drug czar is carping at the mayor of Washington for not being cooperative about some vague plan for the feds and the locals to get together in a new drug war. The mayor just as vaguely says that isn't true, he'd be happy to cooperate.
Mike Royko
Syndicated columnist
More talk. And in the time it takes them to exchange empty words, another few tons of cocaine as easily into this country as clouds drift across the sky.
Much of it will be converted into crack. And some crack users, unable to to work for a living, will go out with a lead pipe or a bat and hit defenseless women.
That's all we've been getting from Washington during the years the dope industry has grown.
Part of that problem is that the federal government doesn't want to waste money on cities. It can put our billions to better use at the Pentagon. We can blow up the Soviet Union 10 times, but D.C. can't spare a few bucks so a woman can safely meet her husband for dinner.
And while Queen Nancy was saying "say no," her husband's administration was playing booby tie with the countries that pump dope into this country. We were giving them financial aid. It's even believed that some of the contra leaders, described by Ron as the moral equivalent of our founding fathers for drug business, were something in high regard, but when did George Washington tell cocaine?
Part of the problem is the people in Washington who make foreign policy and look at the big picture don't want to offend our friends, the drug-dealing nations.
I don't wish to harm anyone but their attitudes might change if a few White House and State Department wives didn't make it to dinner alive.
And part of the problem is the odd notion that we can't use our military against drug merchants.
I'm not suggesting that we have tanks rolling down Dopeville Street or Marines storming crack houses.
But, is it unthinkable to have Army troops along the Mexican border? Would it be rude to use the Air Force to chase air drug shipments?
So, if we are going to have a genuine war on drugs, we need a new drug slogan. Why doesn't everyone out there drop a postcard to the White House with this slogan on it?
"Say No To Bull----!"
Mike Rovko is a avidated columnist