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Friday, November 2, 1990/ University Daily Kansan
Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
HIV testing
Test results vital to proper medical treatment should not be kept anonymous at health center
Students concerned about keeping their HIV test results anonymous should consider the implications of their actions upon the medical community.
When a patient relies on a physician to treat an illness or injury, it is imperative that all of the patient's past medical history be available to formulate the proper diagnosis and treatment. If pertinent information is excluded from these records, physicians waste time ordering new tests, or possibly risk treating the wrong ailment.
The medical community depends on diagnostic testing both to rule out and zero in on treatment pathways. By shielding test results, especially those confirming potentially life-threatening diseases, patients are prolonging their own good health.
At Watkins Memorial Health Center, every possible effort is made to ensure patient confidentiality. Watkins does not hire students to work in the records or treatment areas. No records are permitted out of a staff member's sight and patients must sign a consent form to release their own medical history.
Test results are a sensitive issue regardless of their nature. Understandably, stringent and secure requirements must be followed to guarantee their candor.
Additionally, Watkins' staff members must sign an annual statement assuring their understanding of the hospital's records policies.
Allowing test results to remain anonymous is an unnecessary and dangerous practice to advocate. The physician and patient relationship is based on mutual trust and disclosure. In the end, masking the truth only hurts the patient.
Buck Tavlor for the editorial board
Vulgar' language
Parents need to explain words, not ignore books
"M y Friend Flicka," the 1941 children's literary classic, has upset parents in Green Cove
Springs, Fla
School administrators removed the book from fifth- and sixthgrade optional reading lists because parents said the book contained vulgar language.
Although teachers no longer have the option to assign the book to students, the book has not been banned.
Parents complained that the book was inappropriate because it contained the word "damn," and "bitch," which was used in reference to a female dog.
Parents concerned about their children's reading material might try communicating with their children. Deleting books from optional reading lists without taking the time to explain the purpose and story content of a book only stifles a child's education. Instead of pretending that those words don't exist in society, it's important for parents to educate their children about the meaning of the words and the different contexts in which they can be used.
Of course, parents also should stop pretending that fifth- and sixth-graders haven't seen or heard those words before.
Sarah Bly for the editorial board
Circus performers flash flesh to spectators
T the spotlight beam roamed the auditorium's ceiling, finally fixing upon a woman swinging on a narrow bar that hung 40 feet above.
Below, toddlers and codgers alike squinted to look past the glare that reflected from the acrobat's bare bottom.
Ms. Bearbottom dazzled the crowd at Saturday's showing of the 1990 Shriner's Circus while nothing but a string covered her glowing bump. Her act, as well as those performed by the other circus women, further muddied my understanding of obscurity.
Why is the circus accepted as a wholesome source of family entertainment? Entertainment forms such as the circus seem to receive some sort of tenure that excuses the exploitation of women.
The circus performers probably
Rich Cornell
Associate Editorial Editor
didn't even know that they stirred to appeal to human qualities many find base. N nobody in the audience complains, nor do their students were not to be found outside.
But much of the circus was blatantly disgusting, despite the traditional flashes of red, blue and green Winkee-Blinke light guns. In Saturday's first act, a man in a leopard suit prowed about the center ring, and another man with white hair. Mr. Leopard cracked a whip as he pulled the veil from the cage. Out stepped Ms. Puma, clothed in black undies and a long tail.
What does all that mean? It's open to interpretation, but one might expect parents, often frightened by the influences of contemporary entertainment such as MTV, to also question the value of introducing their 8-year-olds to stealthy catwomen who respond to whins.
Ms Puma performed stunts for her partner and the audience. As the act progressed — or regressed, in this case — Mr Leopard shouted instructions with threatening cracks of the teeth; he was pressed against the bottom, dashing any sense of dignity a sympathetic spectator might have tried to salvage in her. The act's alleged climax unfolded when Ms Puma was sealed into a giant urn when Mr Leopard touched it, a real kappa kept from the urn
Rich Cornell is an Olathe senior majoring in journalism.
Finney's wavering truly scary
I am glad my friend Berry Shalinsky is loyal to his boss, Joan Finney, but contrast to his claim in Tuesday's Kansan, only Finyne herself is painting her picture as insensitive and incompetent. She brought prized consultants she has brought to Kansas lessons in incoherence.
Her own words show that if Joan wants to be perceived as sensitive, she'd better get Finney off her ticket.
Here's Finney's sensitivity to incest victims: If dad is doing it to me, she can still do so; she can "stand up and say, Do not that to my child, boy or girl."
Contrary to what Finney's employee claims, the difference between Finney and Hayden is stark. As her supporters point out, Finney is for life sentences for impregnated rape victims — she wants them to give birth to their attackers' offspring.
Kelley
Hayden
Guest columnist
That's the way Finney talks—and thinks. Talking that way got her into trouble, so her high-priced handlers told to her to up. Then she took the you-tell-me what-to-think approach. Asked by the Sierra Club and others about her conservation policy, Finney replied, "My mind is a blank slate." She invited those groups to write their own policies on her mind.
Like Shalinsky, I don't care for simplistic labels, so I'll just let Hayden speak for himself: "I believe that this (what to do about pregnancy) is a decision that, in a free society, ultimately has to be made by the individual woman without interference by government or politicians."
Don't kid yourself. If you think Finney isn't serious about being
That's the Hayden position; label it if you want. That was the position in 1966, and it's been the position in this family of strong women since at least 1968, when our grandmother, then a teenager with her own mother dead and herself raising little brother and sisters, rode a horse alone across 100 miles of trackless prairie to visit her homesteading father.
anti-abortion, ask her why her run-
naged mate sponsored the most
restrictive anti-abortion bill of the
1990 Legislature.
Contrary to what Finney's employee claims, the candidates' tax plans are poles apart. Hayden has lowered taxes; Finney has criticized him for it. Hayden "created the greatest mistake of ever when he lowered income taxes." Finney said in his immirable way.
Finney has, in fact, not ruled out taxing Girl Scout bake sales. At the State Fair, she said she wanted a sales tax on 52 groups of currently exempt goods and services. Included? Yard sales, purchases by non-profit groups, school textbook rentals. Meals on Wheels programs, home utilities, telephone calls, food-stamp purchases, medicines, equipment for nursing homes — the list goes on and on.
Finney beat a hasty, mud-slinging retreat from the howls of protest. Now she claims she will tax only some of those things. "Which?" she has been asked repeatedly. Wait and see, Finney keeps saying.
This country's founding ancestors fought a war for independence from taxation without representation. Finney wants to return us to colonial days with her plan for taxation without explanation.
Why is my friend Shalimshi urging us not to vote our fears? Is it because the word "scury" keeps coming up in references to Finney? Because voters might be fearful of a candidate who is not a strong opponent Democrat. "God told me to run."
What do we at the University have to fear from Finney? Plenty:
■ Finney said her first move would be a hiring freeze.
She identified faculty travel among the waste to be cut from the state budget.
**Hers running mate has proposed laws that would endanger the structure of education at the University of Kansas Medical Center.**
Finney wants to pay for the Margin of Excellence by taking money from other programs.
The simple truth is that Joan Finney is the purest demagogue Kansas politics has seen since the Great Depression. In appearances with her opponent, she has never answered a question directly or spoken clearly about any issue. She simply has invective at Mike Hayden while making hyperbolic claims of her own prowess.
The same goes for her radio and television ads. Media analysts have pointed out that they avoid all issues and distort the records of both the governor and the Legislature through a relentless attack of misstatements. "Any lie to get elected" seems to be the Finney motto.
She took a "strong stand against" qualified admissions at Regents schools. Criticized, she flipped. She will reconsider — after her election.
To support gasolon production, Finney said she would encourage farmers to grow the crops that means more irrigation and that Kansas needs to conserve water, she decided we'd better stop growing so much corn.
We need to know what we're growing, and where we're going, in the next four years. So let's send Hayden to the Statehouse and Finney back to her housebound on Lake Superior, where she can see her own thoughts reflected. After all, a blank slate is a terrible thing to waste.
Kelley Hayden is an assistant to the Executive Vice Chancellor.
LETTERS to the EDITOR
Finney will help Kansas
My mother, Janine Finney, wants to be our governor. I believe she will be a great governor because she is strong and improving the quality of life in Kansas.
I have read numerous articles written by a variety of reporters from most of the newspapers in the state. The articles written in these publications quotations from the many farmers she helped when Mike sat on his duff in the
statehouse. They never use quotations from the families of servicemen that she helped to unite during the Vietnam War, when they could get no information about their wounded sons. They never use quotations from the laid-off shopworkers from Santa Fe, to whom she offered compassion and help when no one else cared. The list goes on and on. I know because I have spent my life watching this woman fulfill her role on this earth — to help other people. Mom never did the same thing as thought she would need their votes for governor. She did it because she cared. My mom is not going to begin making friends with special interests so she can win another election. My mom wants to do all she can make this the best state for my children
and your children to grow up in. My mother needs your prayers and support.
Mary Holladay
Topeka resident
Beware of naysayers
Based on what I have seen and heard loudly, some snyaysayers in Lawrence have discovered the political campaigner's dictum. When
A seasoned political campaigner in another city once told me that the way to defeat questions taken to the electorate is to make numerous exaggerated claims in advertisements and news releases to the media, preferably late in the campaign, so they cannot be refuted.
called on their exaggerations — if not downright falsehoods they shrug their shoulders and walk away. When asked to correct their mistakenness, lawyers recognize that voters in Lawrence recognize the payers and their antics.
When Mike Amyx, Shirley Martin Smith and others (working long and diligently to make Lawrence the best job possible) cost to finance these badly needed
In contrast, when Tom Mulinazi, a nationally recognized civil engineer authority and professor, says that the South Lawrence Trafficway and the Eastern Parkway are essential to lessen the growing congestion on 23rd and Iowa streets (and adjacent streets) and play and go to school). I believe him.
projects would be only $5 a year, I believe them. While I pay $5 a year, the state of Kansas and the federal contribute millions of dollars.
Lawrence voters must not be distracted by those with insatiable appiences for herring — red herring!
Tim Bengtson associate professor of journalism
Re-elect Mike Hayden
I feel compelled to write this letter to inform the voters of Kansas just a few reasons why they should re-elect Mike Hayden.
I have witnessed firsthand the qualities and firm leadership of Hayden. As a part of the leadership team in the Senate, I have attended regular meetings in the governor's office; one of these meetings would convince anyone of the quality of Mike Hayden's leadership. He is firm, well-informed and convincing in his quest for what is good for Kansas.
Another strong point for Hayden is his desire to represent the will of the people. A big share of legislators send out questionnaires to their districts think about the issues. Hayden polls the people. He knows what they are thinking. Legislators continually say, "I will represent you." That is the way Hayden governs. He seeks your voice and will push for your thinking.
KANSAN STAFF
Ben Vidrickson assistant majority leader, senator, District 24
KJERSTIN GABRIELSON
DEREK SCHMIDT
Editor
TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser
Editors
News    Julie Mettenburg
Editorial  Mary Neubauer
Planning  Palm Sollier
Campus  Holly Lawton
Sports  Brent Maycock
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Features  Stacy Smith
MARGARET TOWNSEND Business manager
MINDY MORRIS Retail sales manager
JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser
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Campus sales mgr...Cristo Dool
Regional sales mgr..Jackie Schmalztrud
National sales mgr...David Price
Co-op sales mgr...Deborah Salzer
Production mgr...Missy Miller
Production assistant...Austria Aikland
Marketing director...Audra Langford
Creative director...Gail Einbinder
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Three Imaginary Girls
HEY, RONNIE, SORRY ABOUT THE SCENE WE CARED IN THERE. DAN WOULD APPLOGUE TOO, BUT I HADAGGERED WITH THEM BEFORE I ENABRARASED. WE GET EMABRARASED. WE ADDED TO TACO DAVENA, WOMAN COMING ALONG?
By Tom Avery
TOM AVERY udk