4 Thursday, October 25, 1990/ University Daily Kansan Opinion THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Gubernatorial endorsement Hayden is voters' best choice for preservation of state stability, communication to the public conservative hayseed sees the challenge of a conservative scatterbrain. And the whiney independent just doesn't have time to deal with this campaign stuff. In two weeks, one of the three will emerge as governor Kansans are properly embarrassed by this election, which reeks of stale ideas. No candidate offers a progressive vision of the state's future. Reaction, not innovation, has guided the three campaigns. If states are the laboratories of democracy, Kansas candidates are offering no bold experiments, no leadership. No candidate proposes creative ways to protect the environment, such as taxing toxic emissions. No candidate proposes enacting stiff penalties for hate and bias crimes. No candidate advocates a statewide system of health insurance to ensure care for everyone. These and other initiatives could move kings in new directions. But that won't lump them together. Although important, the issues in this campaign — property taxes, the state budget, higher-education financing, abortion and the structure of Social and Rehabilitation Services — reflect not new challenges, but rehashed solutions to old problems. There was ample chance for innovation. Candidates could have debated reducing the state's reliance on property tax; instead, they squabbled about how to patch the existing system. They could have clashed about how to continue to improve higher education and Margin of Excellence; instead, they bickered about financing for the Margin's last year. Kansas is not poised for progress during the next four years. Voters must decide which candidate best can manage the status quo. Mike Hayden is the choice: Mike Hayden is the choice: - Hayden proposes a politically palatable method for financing the final year of the Margin, and he has repeatedly pledged to press for the third year. The other candidates advocate a politically sticky diversion of labor that could mire the Margin. - Hayden has a reasonable property tax plan. He advocates uniformly increasing the state sales tax rate to generate property tax relief. His Democratic opponent would eliminate or reduce most sales-tax exemptions, harming growth, industry and the poor. Her proposal changes weekly but still is not The independent candidate supports property-tax relief. She just doesn't know how to achieve it. - Hayden is willing to pay for government. Although state coffers have dwindled during his administration, Kansas remains solvent. - Hayden will increase the tax increases to pay for needed services. Both of his opponents support a warmed-over version of Reaganism, cutting the state budget. But after four years of Hayden conservatism, little fat remains. In addition to advocating proposals, a governor must communicate. Few people would argue that hayseed Hayden projects an inspiring public image. But at least he is coherent. His Democratic opponent, Joan Finney, has made repeated public gaffes, including one statement suggesting that law and order would be the end of democracy. And the independent, Christina Campbell-Cline, thinks audits and prayer are panaceas of governance. Minimum competence is basic to governing. Even those Kansans disgruntled with Hayden would do well to adopt a new slogan: "We tolerate Mike." Derek Schmidt for the editorial board Obscenity on trial Freedom not to listen to 2 Live Crew still exists A court battle that ended Saturday in Florida was fought on behalf of people who had forgotten how to use radio dials, tape ejectors and, most of all, their individual purchasing power. The rap group 2 Live Crew was acquitted of an obscenity charge by a Fort Lauderdale jury that deliberated just two hours before reaching a verdict. A jury member later explained that the jury regarded the group's lyrics as art. Some jurors even called the lyrics "comedy" and "fun." The case against 2 Live Crew began after a June 10 adults-only performance at a Hollywood, Fla., nightclub. During the performance, the group performed songs from its "As Nasty as They Wanna Be" album. The Kansas City Star recently noted that some of the songs on the album depict oral and anal sex in crude and graphic terms. This verdict contradicts a June 6 federal court ruling that the album was obscure. Earlier this month, a Fort Lauderdale record store owner was found guilty for selling the The record store owner and the three members of 2 Live Crew have been needlessly and unfairly singled out. Freedom of speech is an enjoyed right in this country, as is the right to use a radio dial or television channel changer. The band's lyrics may be difficult to listen to, but they don't keep the right to sing them. Luther Campbell. 2 Live Crew's lead singer, said it best in a television interview after the verdict was delivered. People who attend 2 Live Crew concerts already know what the music is about, he said. And those who don't like the music don't have to go to the concert. Mary Neubauer and Buck Taylor for the editorial board Budig's silence makes no sense just don't understand. I know this hasn't been an easy semester for Chancellor Gene A. Budg. People have been marching at the rally yesterday, and I wonder things that he may or may not be able to deliver as KU's top administrator. A culturally diverse, sensitive, human campus is a difficult thing to handle, but something that happens overnight. Then there's also the complex of racial, ethnic and gender-related However, the events of the last month and the sometimes hostile reactions to those who are arguing for changes toward more tolerance of human diversity have troubled me deeply. Discussions about the issues are occurring, but scary, hateful things still are happening. In view of this, I am wondering out loud to load up with information that has not made direct, in person statements about recent events on campus. I know that the ROTC issue is a monster and something that now presents a dilemma for KU administrators. Whatever action they take, they are caught between the University's anti-discrimination policy and the Department of Defense policy concerning homosexuality. I agree that effective change must come from the national level, but I can't get it done without feeling I am committed to non-discrimination, some sort of symbolic protest, such as moving the ROTC ceremonies off campus, is in order. issues that the Women's Student Union, Black Men of Today, American Civil Liberties Union and many other campus groups have brought to our attention in the wake of the ROTC protests. Again, these are problems that are not unique to KU. However, when the administration greets such concerns with silence, the message that is sent is that these issues are not important enough to merit a substantial — and direct — response. step. Homophobia and other forms of discrimination are alive and well at KU. The violence and hatred against those who differ in any way from the American nation has abstractionally been witnessed racially motivated fights, women being threatened with violence from men and anti-homosexual harassment on campus this year. All of these incidents have occurred in the hundred yards of where I live. I cannot ignore incidents such as these that occur practically on my door- I have never really considered myself an activist. I marched at Budig's house because it seemed the most constructive way to lend support to the groups involved. And I write columns because it is the best way I know to express my particular concerns. My concern today is that Budig has not spoken out personally on these issues. Involving vice chancellors with the campus groups and issuing written proclamations are important, but Budig as chancellor symbolizes the importance of his response would signal his commitment to the safety and welfare of all KU students. With that in mind, I'm left scratching my head as to why he hasn't addressed these pressing concerns in a statement to students and faculty. Liz Massey is a Mission senior majoring in journalism. Qualified admissions would rule out second chance at serious education recently, I heard that the Board of Regents supported a plan to implement admission requirements for the seven Regents schools in Kansas, with emphasis for admission being on a person's high school academic record. This plan, in effect, undermines the efforts of leaders to educate the youth of Kansas. During the high school years, many teenagers go through periods of crisis and development in many domains. Mistakes are often made, and these mistakes may be permanently reflected on a student's transcript. Poor motivation in academics may be due to Guest columnist David Caruso family, friends or just personal problems — but almost never because a student just doesn't care. Teen-agers tend to confuse what's really important or may be overwhelmed by the many non-academic challenges that face them. I can speak from experience. During high school, as my outside problems grew, my grades fell. I failed the majority of my math and English courses, but my grades improved before I graduated, but the effects will always be on my transcript. Thanks to Kansas' open admissions policy, I was admitted to KU, and no one can tell me how much I can achieve. My career has been better than average for years. If some bureaucrat, abiding by admissions requirements and Kansas state law, would have judged me solely by my high school grade point average, I would have been denied the education I am receiving and subsequently denied my potential as an U.S. citizen altogether. By my example it can be concluded that if the goal of the Regents is to see that Kansans are better educated, such a policy would only achieve the reverse. A real solution? Toughen high school curricula and design classes that help teenagers deal with some of the real issues they face. Many teen-agers need support with the things that concern them directly, and high school is an ideal place to give this support and motivate them for the future. Kansas schools don't need to frustrate a teen-ager even further. Making them pay the rest of their lives for the mistakes they make during the crisis. Education is the key to a productive citizen in a productive society. Thus, education should be available to everyone who asks for it and never denied to anyone. It doesn't matter what failures they've had in the past. Anyone can change, 'and if they sincerely desire an education then absolutely no one has the right to deny them that. ▶ David Caruso II is a Goddard freshman majoring in English. KANSAN STAFF DEREK SCHMIDT Editor KJERSTIN GABRIELSON TOM EBLEN TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser Editor's News. Jolie Mettenburg Editorial. Mary Neubauer Planning. Pam Solliner Campus. Holly Lawson Sports. Brent Maycoy Photo. Andrew Morrison Features. 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