UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN editorials
Unsigned editors represent the opinion of the Kanisan edition editor. Signed columns represent the views of writers.
August 23,1978
Please don't,but ...
For several semesters, the Kansas has used this space in its first issue to urge University of Kansas administrators to speed their study of computerized pre-enrollment.
We've given up.
As we prepare to stand and sweat while we wait in line to enter Allen Field House, wait to obtain various stamps of approval, wait to beg for each class card, wait to check out and then wait to pay our fees, our thoughts turn from true reform to out-and-out cheating.
Aside from the inconvenience and frustrations of the current enrollment system, one of its basic faults has been that any notion of equality of enrollment opportunity is destroyed by the vast advantage available to those who are dishessen.
TO HEIGHTEN the inequality, various methods of cheating can't be found in the standard University literature, adding further awards to the person who is not only dishonest but also instinctively devious.
The most common methods of cheating are obvious to anyone who has endured enrollment more than once or twice;
- The simplest way to cheat is to find a friend who enrolls early. A student with such a friend can have him sign up for that coveted class in addition to his own. The early enroller can then pocket the extra class card, erase the class from his enrollment card and give the class card to the student who wanted it.
- A more difficult, but potentially
more valuable method, is to find a friend who is working at enrollment—or even to go so far as to set up a friend on the enrollment work force specifically for the purpose of doling out early "O.K. to pick up class cards" stamps.
Pleading, crying or lying to get a class card after a class has been pronounced closed is an even more obvious, and slightly less shift, method of getting desired classes. We mention that here, however, only because many new students aren't aware that a "closed" class often can be reopened on the spot if a student can make an effective case for getting the card.
THE KANSAN, of course, deplores the above methods of enrolling. Such dishonesty and downright sneakiness are at the root of the inequalities in the current system.
We think pre-enrollment would work campus-wide at the University of Kansas. It would require more planning and an investment in computer time and programming, but potential savings in salaries and time probably would recoup those costs.
But computerized pre-enrollment has remained mired so deep in KU's bureaucritic muck that we have little hope that even this year's freshmen will ever enroll by computer, thereby avoiding the hassies and temptations to cheat unembeded in the current plan.
Again, we hope students will avoid the enrollment schemes we outlined—but, like it or not, that's how it's done.
KU doesn't need ASK
Rumblings by student politicians urging the University of Kansas to join the Associated Students of Kansas, a state student lobbying group, call for a stern rebuff by the Student Senate this fall.
Negotiations between Harper and ASK produced a resolution by the ASK board of directors recommending that KU be allowed a 10-month provisional membership in ASK with full voting rights for $2,500. That membership, however, is subject to the approval of each member's student government and the ASK legislative assembly.
Since ASK's inception in the early 1970s, KU has fallen to join the group, saying its membership fee was too much—about $10,000 for KU. So this summer, a teaser was offered to the University, one that seems to have attracted the interest of Mike Harper, student body president.
ALTHOUGH THE reduced membership might appear a good deal, the Student Senate, when it considers KU's possible membership, should also decide whether students would be willing to fork over $10,000 for membership once the trial period ends. Why needlessly spend $2,500 this year, if senators are certain they couldn't commit at least $7,500 more the next.
The biggest advantage of ASK, Harper says, is that it would provide a unified voice of university students if KU joined. This unification, he says, would be a more effective influence on the Kansas Legislature—the old strength-in-numbers theory.
KU HAS relied upon its own lobbying efforts by the administration and
Concerned Students for Higher Education, a Senate-organized lobbying group.
That's fine, Harper says, but GHSSE lobbies only for issues that affect KU students and usually ignores issues that affect all Regents schools.
He contends that CSHE is an effective lobby for some things, such as Watson Library renovation and a fee waiver for graduate students. But CSHE has little impact on the Legislature concerning broader issues, he says, such as the minimum wage for student employees or a proposed cigarette tax for athletic funding. There is a need for both, he says.
But he and other ASK proponents never seem to explain why CSHE or other KU lobbyists can't work with ASK to achieve common goals.
Such cooperation means there would be two student voices in the Statehouse, not two divergent groups that cause splintering.
THE UNIVERSITY should not dilute its lobbying efforts by joining ASK, when it has proven its current efforts can work. Albeit, CSHE has much room for improvement but its budget this year is a mere $600.
If Harper and the Senate find CSHE inadequate, they can best use the $2,500 to either beef up that group or as Harper has mentioned, to hire a professional lobbyist for KU. In either case, a KU student's activity fee money would be used primarily for KU's benefit, not diluted in a group in which KU is just another voice in the uprear for higher education funding.
We on the Kanana staff respect you as the most challenging group of readers who are part of our team.
As university students professors and administrators, you are, on the average, better educated and more vocal than the students of a general circulation newspaper.
Readers challenge Kansan staff
You are harder to please and easier to bore than the average reader. Many of you are specialists or experts, and when we need someone to study you are quick to note our deficiencies.
Most of us are journalism majors hoping to learn enough to persuade professional newspaper editors to hire us after graduation.
We welcome the challenge.
Coming from all parts of the state, nation and world, you make our effort to explain the relevance of local issues in Lawrence doubly difficult.
AS WE JUGGLE the huge chunks of time we spend on the Kansan with classmates, teachers and our sleep, we know our efforts to serve such a demanding readership will test and develop our skills.
Along the way, we hope to tap the varied
materials we use and make our
products useful and interesting.
Our mailbox is ready to receive your letters to the editor, and we are ready to print your comments. The door to my office is at 10am. I am ready with criticism, a suggestion or complaint. I am willing to explain our policies or coverage and am ready to be quick and open with criticism.
AS THE NEW editor, some of my greatest assets are the Kansan's tradition of excellence and the friends we have made over the years. Our staff will continue that tradition and add to it.
For starters, we hope this back-to-school issue will help you get acquainted or re-acquainted with the community and the newspaper.
The sections labeled City Life, Campus Life and People were prepared by the staff of Kevin Klous, summer editor, under the guidance of Mr. W. Jerry Sass, full staffers arrived last Monday to produce the 16-page Sports section. A larger contingent of reporters and editors worked from Sunday until this morning to publish 16 pages of news and information.
ALTHOUGH THE fall Kansan $\circ$ fundamentally the same newspaper as in the past, we will introduce changes and additions in our effort to serve you better.
The editorial page you are reading, for example, has been changed from eight-column to six-column and makes the page easier to read and more lovely for you. You may notice more changes on this page during the semester as we wagle over type styles and formats to
The column of news capsules has been moved from the front page to Page 2, where we can make more room for the national and international news we know you want.
We will follow candidates for state and local offices throughout this fall's election campaign. A special emphasis will be put on making informed decisions.
AND WE WILL expand and publish more regularly a magazine guide to life outside the classroom, a project begun by the spring staff.
I'm convinced that the staff chosen to fulfill our commitments is through coincidence, lack and their hard work—one of the most experienced assembled for the Kansan.
The University Daily Kansan welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be typewritten, double-spaced and not exceed 500 words. They should include the writer's name, address and phone number. Letters should be filled with the University, the letter should include the writer's class and home town or faculty or staff position.
The Kansan reserves the right to edit letters for publication. Letters can be delivered personally or mailed to the University. Because of space limitations, the Kansan reserves the right to edit letters for publication.
Letters Policy
Bowmaner's assistants on the campus desk will be Pam Manson, Overland Park junior, and Brian Settle, Kansas City, Kan. senior. Settle spent this summer at the Wichita Eagle-Becon and Manson worked for the Fort Scott Tribune.
Sass, Lawrence graduate student, will repeat as managing editor and will organize a staff of about 50 reporters and copy editors at the University of Oregon, and has worked in the newsrooms of the Oregon Statesman in Salem, the Fort Huron (Mich.) Times-News.
Guarding a university and style will be copy chiefa Laurie Daniel, Shawnee Mission senior; Carol Hunter, Parsons senior; and Paula Southerland, Topeka senior. Daniel Washington for the Atlanta Journal and Southern for the Eagle-Beacon.
Good intentions melt as summer days dwindle
Randy Olson, St. Louis senior, has returned from the Milwaukee Journal to the Kansas's photo editor, Dave Miller, for Park junior, will be editorial cartoonist.
UNRUIR'S ASSOCIATE will be Nancy
Klugman. His team worked this
summer for the Sun.
I return to the University as Kannan editor after a summer on the Miami Herald and a spring in the Washington, D.C. office of Rep. Richardson Prever, D-N.C. I have taught at the Eagle-Beacon, the Topeka State Journal and the Abilene Chronicle-Colonie.
Barry Massey, Humboldt senior, will be editorial editor. He has worked for the Kansas City Times, Rochester (N.Y.) Times-Union and Chanute Tribute. He spent last fall at the Modern Media Institute in St.Petersburg, Fla.
Editing the Kanas magazine supplement will be Melissa Thompson, Wichita senior, assisted by Mary-Anne Olivar, Lawrence senior. Thompson has been an intern on the Eagle-Beacon. Olivar spent the summer as the Kanas's wizard editor.
campus editor. He has worked for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Hutchinson News, Kansas City Times, Parsons Sun and Olathe Daily News.
Each May, as final winds down and I see glorious "free time" coming my direction, I list the ways I'm going to improve myself during the summer. I imagine a new and exciting break down Jayhawk Boulevard with a smile on his face.
I seem to get depressed because I begin to think about the things I did not finish during the summer.
The end of summer and the beginning of school has always been a depressing time for me. It's not that I mind being in a classroom or sitting at desk.
Leon Urnah, sports editor, is a senior from Pawnee Rock who founded the Pawnee Rock Informer when he was in the fifth grade. He advanced from there to the Minneapolis (Minn.) Tribune, Hays Daily News and Topoca Capital.
Dirck
Steimel
DAN BOWERMAN, Olathe senior, will be
Summer's almost over and it's time to put away the sun oil and get back to the books.
PATIENCE CAN melt quickly under such
This summer I even made it easier on myself by limiting my goals to three. I decided to read, run and get a sutan in
THE WAY I figured it, the sunitan would make me look better, the running would make me feel better and the reading would expand my mind and make我 a well-rounded student. There was no way I could lose. All I had to do was put out a little effort and sit back and wait for the new Dirck.
Those of us who buy our books early enough in the day may escape before the stetch settles, but the students who buy books early in the week can be double winners. People Books, they also have at least an even chance of finding the books they want.
But, as always, I came back to school my old procrastinating self.
Enrollment trials enhance party fun
Country Club Week has rolled around again and, ready or not, classes begin Monday. If we can just survive enrollment, the bookstore, apartment hunting and of course, the parties, then we get to wait anxiously for names to be called on class rosters Monday.
During the next three days, a record number of us are scheduled to be herded through Hoch Auditorium, Allen Field House and other enrolment centers.
In-state breeds currently are going for $555.10, and out-of-staters cost more than twice that amount. Strays will be rounded up Saturday and early next week for a small surcharge. A few of us will be slaughtered somewhere between Strong Hair and Tropical Cost of us will advance to the Kansas Union Bookstore, normally an enjoyable place.
AFTER THE first day I began to make up all the possible excuses to talk myself out of running. I would tell myself that I had too much to drink the night before or that I had too many blue nights blue running shoes began to collect dust in the corner.
The first day of vacation I was at 8 a.m., bright-eyed and ready to hit the streets. I slipped on my blue bright shoes and started to jog. I felt good as I heard the folks on their porch swings talking about me as I cruised by. But after about three blocks, fatigue and boredom began to set in and it became an unill battle.
A DEEP BREATH inside the bookstore, however, will make us wish we were back at Station 1, or wonder why we didn't try a trade shop. Just after we think we have escaped the August enrollment heat, we will move more often oppressive heat of the bookstore.
We will bend and bump for our books amid the stifling smell of day-old deodorant or no deodorant at all. Each of us will be certain, that we must wear deodorant, that we must be the only person that day to have showered. Somehow, though, it figures, especially after being closed out of Introduction to Elementary Prerequisites because graduating seniors get to that table
I don't know where I went wrong, but somehow the new Dierrick never materialized. It gives a guy the blues.
Yep . . . you're right! These will make wonderful bookshelves
I started out like a ball of fire. I bought a few books (light fiction) to me get started, a pair of sneakers and a bottle of wine.
Staff Cartoon by DAVE MILLER
The deep, even suntan never got off the ground. First I was scared of the sunscreen for the suntan oil, and then I discovered another problem.
The reading also began on a promising note but soon went sour. I breezed through a best-selling novel and gallantly began another. But mid-plot boredom hit my reading came to a halt. Baseball scores and comics soon made up the majority of my mind expansion. I didn't even make the effort to keep up with the adventures of Brenda Starr.
I thought running and reading were boring until I began to subathe, Now I admire people who have good tans, because their patience must be greater than that of University of Kansas football fans.
NO ANOTHER summer is past and I am still flabby, white and narrow-minded. I guess I should quit making these summer promises and I wouldn't be so depressed when school starts.
I've decided that next May I won't make outlandish promises about the upcoming summer that I know I'll
But I am going to get my term papers handed in at least two weeks before deadline this semester.
Walt Braun
circumstances, but anger spent on the cashiers is wasted. It slows movement even further, and isn't fair to the cashiers. We, after all, can leave the bookstore after dealing with one of them, but they must breathe in these few days while dealing with thousands of us.
For those students who must still find housing, enrollment may seem simple. For students with pets who seek housing, a sincere "good luck," must suffice. Your prayers, for the most part, will go unanswered and your luck will go bad. Perhaps you should send your pet to the bookstore while you speak with landlords.
Hundreds of students will rent apartments already occupied by courtestess七-legged little pets that have learned every trick of Surrey. They learn quickly and immediately and permanently to their Peso-
pe books and spray their apartments like lice pads. They will why four-legged pets are unacceptable.
Country Club Week, of course, is much more much more fun than perspiring all across Mt. Oread. It is the unofficial end of summer and saints and represents our last opportunity to act irresponsibly and get away with it.
**THIS IS a week in which we see old friends, make new ones and cut in front of someone else's friends in lines. It is also the time that students' wallets are at their fattest and the merchants are at their friendliest.**
Evenings this week will bring crowded bars, restaurants and parties, where the days' defeats can be drowned and their victories savored. Hoch's horror stories can be told and retold, and everything from good food stories to good liquor can be shared.
The evenings transform enrollment week into Country Club Week but, strangely, they seem more enjoyable if a little sufferer doesn't them. They can say we've earned them.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Kansan Telephone Number
Newroom-864-8510
Business Office-864-8528
Published at the University of Kansas daily Angst through May and Monday through Thursday during June And July except Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday. Second-class student postal paid at Lawrence, Kansas 68645. Subscriptions by mail are $1 for six months @ $2 a month in Douglas County and $1 for six months or $a outside the county. Student subscriptions are $a a semester, paid through the student activity
Editor Steve Frazier
Steve Fraser
Managing Editor
Jerry Mason
Campus Editor...Barkey Mason
Assistant Campus Editors...Brian Settle, Pam Manson
Magazine Editor...Melissa Thompson
Associate Magazine Editor...Mary Thomas
Sports Editor...Loren Urush
Associate Sports Editor...Nancy Porter
Photo Editor...Randy Gou
Copy Charts...Laurie Daniels, Carol Hunter,
Make-up Editors...Mary Norrborg, Paul Southerland,
Wire Editors...Ana Manko, Paula Rey
Editorial Writers...Linda Finstone, Pam Eky
Photographers...John Whitester, Dirk Steinel,
Wild Braner, Alain Holder
Staff Writers...Trish Lewa, Alan Zuky
Editorial Cartoonist...Stefan Artista
Business Manager
Don Green
Associate Business Manager...Karen Wendertoff
Assistant Business Manager
Promotional Manager...Nick Heddy
Associate Promotional Managers
Alen Smith
Advertising Manager
National Advertising Manager
Classified Manager
Assistant Classified Manager
Photographer
Artist
Jeff Kious
National Advertising Manager
Classified Manager
Ass Assistant Classified Manager
Photographer
Stephie Slaw, Linda Hohmann
General Manager
Rick Muster
Advertising Advisor
Chuck Chowins