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Monday, September 17, 1990 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Condoms at KU
University must follow Wichita State's example and place condoms in campus vending machines
Student Senate gave KU the chance during the spring 1990 semester to become the first Board of Regents school to offer condoms in vending machines.
But while University of Kansas administrators are still considering the condoms-in-vending-machines resolution passed by the Senate, another Regents member has beaten them to the punch. Wichita State University now distributes condoms in vending machines, 60 cents for three prophylaxis.
Wichita State officials chose to offer condoms in the same machines with candy, cookies and chips and are ready to back up their decision.
Vicky Triponey, Wichita State associate dean of student life and services, said Wednesday that the university's officials talked with health officials from across the country before making their decision.
Triponey said there were concerns that the decision might be viewed as a morality statement, but the need to offer Wichita State students protection against AIDS took precedence.
Condoms are not distributed at Wichita State in condom-only vending machines in bathrooms because of vandalism concerns, and the option is being considered. Trinity said.
She said Wichita State officials did not see condoms as the only protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Information distributed in packets containing condoms in the vending machines reads in part, "Abstinence, safe sex and avoidance of drugs are the best shields against AIDS."
The condoms do not cost Wichita State anything. The vending company that contracts with the university purchased the original supply of condoms and packaging. Student purchases will reimburse the company.
Wichita State officials have faced reality and have taken a positive step in the fight against AIDS. Worrying about a morality statement from the university has little merit when more than 70 percent of high school graduates are active sexually.
In a poll of other Regents institutions.
- Emporia State University representatives reported that the school distributes free condoms to students in examining rooms and at the front desk of its student health center.
- Fort Hays State University representatives reported that the school offers free condoms to students at its student health center.
Kansas State University representatives reported that the school sells 10 condoms for $1 at its student health center. Several residence halls and fraternities distribute condoms to residents. A university committee also addresses AIDS education concerns, including whether condom vending machines are needed on campus.
The Kansas College of Technology representatives reported that the school offers AIDS information to its students.
Pittsburgh State University representatives reported that the school distributes free condoms to students who ask for them at the school's student health center.
Information concerning AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and condoms is available at KU through the pharmacy at Watkins Memorial Health Center. For 50 cents, students can buy a package of three prophylactics. Conditions are sold at the Kansas Union Bookstore.
But approaching a person at the pharmacy on bookstore to buy condoms could be麻烦.
Vending machines offer the perfect solution of anonymity to the problem. Distribution of the machines throughout campus also offers greater convenience.
Bob Derby, manager of KU Concessions, which operates campus vending machines for the Kansas Union, said the company could provide condoms for its vending machines with little capital outlay. But that choice is not his to make, he said, and he is waiting for an administrative decision.
An important and progressive precedent has been set by Wichita State. It is time for KU to follow that lead.
Mary Neubauer for the editorial board
AIDS prevention
University needs to do more to educate students
university of Kansas students today see pain and death caused by a disease
that knows no social, racial or religious boundaries — a disease that has taken the lives of entire families and terrified the communities around them.
It is a disease that causes society to alienate the victim instead of treating him or her.
The disease is AIDS, and the problem is education.
The University has a responsibility to the welfare of its students and must take a more active role in stopping the spread of AIDS.
There are 11 diagnosed cases of AIDS in Douglas County. It is possible that these cases might have been prevented if the victims were more informed.
KU sponsors 30-minute health seminars that address issues such as AIDS during summer orientation but does not include the program in fall orientation.
Kathryn Kretschmer, director of new student orientation, said the health program was not included during fall orientation but students' main priority then was enrollment.
Janine Demo, coordinator of health education and chairperson of the University's AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases Committee, met with about 100 students about AIDS on college campuses, was relatively high. The problem is that students have to commit to a change in behavior, she said.
Demo said parents who attended the health seminar during summer orientation asked her why the program was not mandatory for students.
University officials should realize that the threat of AIDS is not going to disappear without educating students, who are in a high-risk group on college campuses. Granted, students may not process the information immediately, but the long-term goal is to make awareness commonplace.
A health education class that trains students to be health advisers in living groups also is offered. Seven scholarship halls, two residence halls, 65 percent of the fraternities and 90 percent of the sororites are involved in the class.
Until education is mandatory, students can and should visit the health education center in Watkins Memorial Health Center, where information about AIDS and other STDs is available. Pamphlets are available in most campus buildings and residence halls.
If one student stops and thinks before acting irresponsibly because he or she attended a mandatory AIDS awareness program, the added inconvenience will be worth it.
Christine Reinolds for the editorial board
LETTERS to the EDITOR
Cartoons offensive
I was greatly troubled by the editorial cartoon in Wednesday's Kansan concerning abortion. The attitude that women are unaccepting an agreeing choice to terminate a pregnancy, do so as a casual throw-away-act to fill up dumpsters is incredibly disrespectful to thousands of women who have faced this difficult situation.
nor humorous. It was offensive, crude, insensitive and degrading. It served as the final bomb for readers who have recently been subjected to four days of "Three Imaginary Girls" where drunken college females hang out at bars
This editorial cartoon was neither politically enlightening
Words and pictures do hurt. The depictions in the Kansan have hurt women as individuals and have hurt women everywhere by portraying them as irresponsible ignorance, benign beings who make ill-considered decisions based on a whim.
We would expect more from a nationally ranked newspaper.
Susan Wesley Hartley, campus pastor, Ecumenical Christian Ministries
TWO IMAGINARY CAMPUS DUPLS
Reader insulted
I am, of course, referring to the Fletch anti-abortion cartoon and the Avery "Three Imaginary Girls." I believe it is the Kansan that needs a special editorial page; the editorial page is the type of trash I can expect to see in the future.
Congratulations to the Kansan for printing two of the most obnoxious and insulting "carbonated" letters in my seven years of Kansans.
Your "Imaginary Girls" 'cartoon was bad enough. Being a woman and a vegetarian, I was a just a bit insulted. However, I found myself seeing the Fletch cartoon. The abortion issue is a serious subject to many people, myself included, and I feel the Kansas demonstrated blatant disrespect of women in printing the cartoon.
Genelle Denneny, Lawrence resident
Use terms consistently
Wednesday's Kansan referred to gubernatorial candidate Mike Hayden as "pro-choice," and his opponent, Joan Finney, as "anti-abortion." If the Kansan is going to use the more palatable "pro-choice" to describe abortion advocates, then abortion opponents should be described by their chosen name: "pro-life."
'If the Kansan wishes to use the term anti-abortion, then abortion advocates should be labeled as pro-abortion.'
If the Kansas wishes to use the term anti-abortion, then abortion advocates should be labeled as pro-bortion. I have no problem with being referred to as anti-abortion, but I would like to see some standardization and a lack of biased terminology.
Sandi Wayland, KU Students For Life president
And now, newspaper fans, it is time for the Kansan Question and Answer Show! (Cheering from the crowd)
Questions and answers
First, let's give 'em the back ground information: In the Sept. 12 Kansan, a cartoon by "Flech" was printed on the opinion page.
Q: Was it funny?
A: No.
Q: Was it informative or ironically enlightening?
A: No.
Q: Was it incredibly细长, insenss-
and oblivious to the issue it attempted
to well, uh, just what was
Flecht thou art condescinate?
A: Yes and no one knows.
Q: Should the Kansas consider the ethical quality of what it chooses to print before printing it, or should students buy a bigger dumpster for trash?
Janiece Fazio, Larkspur, Colo.. junior
Clarification
■ Because of an editor's error, an editorial that appeared in yesterday's Kansan was misleading. The editorial discussed University Senate's voting by mail to determine whether ROTC courses would continue to count toward the 124-hour bachelor's degree requirements.
The editorial should have stated
that Chancellor Gene A. Budig said that he would support Senate however it voted. But the chancellor also has maintained that he would continue to allow ROTC commissioning ceremonies to take place on campus.
The Kansan apologizes for any misunderstanding the mistake may have caused.
DEREK SCHMIDT
KANSAN STAFF
DURKE SCHMIDT
Editor
KJERSTIN GABRIELSON
Managing editor
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news advice
Editors
MARGARET TOWNSEND Business manager
editors
News Julie Mettenburg
Editorial Mary Neubauer
Planning Pam Solliner
Campus Holly Lawton
Sports Brent Maycock
Photo Andrew Morrison
Features Stacy Smith
Listens should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 200 words. They must include the writer's signature, name, address and telephone number. Writers affiliated with the University of Kansas must also include their email address.
Business staff
Campus sales mgr. Christ Dool
Regional sales mgr. Jaccie Schmalzier
National sales mgr. David Price
Co-op sales mgr. Deborah Salzer
Production mgr. Misy Miller
Production assistant. Julie Axisland
Marketing director. Audra Langford
Creative director. Gail Einbinden
Because of an editing error, information was left out of a column about homelessness by Simha Ruben in Wednesday's Kansan. Ruben intended the column to show that the homelessness problem is an individual problem that each person should make an effort to solve.
MINDY MORRIS
Retail sales manager
JEANNE HINES
Sales and marketing adviser
Guest columns should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be photographed.
Kansan reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailled or brought to the Kansan newroom, 111 Stuart-Flunt Hall. Letters, columns and cartoons are the opinion of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Kansan. Editorials are the opinion of the Kansan editorial board.
Three Imaginary Girls
By Tom Avery