4
Tuesday, September 11, 1990 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
Minority increase
Med Center recruitment program sets example; enrollment remains too low, but it's improving
during the 1984-85 academic year, minorities made up 1 percent of first
minorities made up 1 percent of first year medical students at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan.
The Med Center could have taken a passive stance and simply talked about increasing minority enrollment and retention, but instead it put words into action.
A survey in New Physician magazine reports that the Med Center's first-year minority student population has increased to 6.5 percent of its total student population. Nationwide, the first-year minority student population increased from 8.8 percent in 1984-85 to 10.4 percent during 1989-90, according to the magazine.
Med Center officials have recruited minority students with the help of grants from the federal government and the Wesley Foundation, which pays full tuition for four minority medical students each year. Recruiters have visited area high schools and have sent letters
to minority students nationwide informing them about KU's three-year-old Health Careers Pathways program in which minority students attend an intensive eight-week summer session that offers academic as well as cultural studies.
Veda Monday, counselor for the program, said it also functioned as a support system. The students may return each summer for more challenging studies and receive extra help in any problem areas. The goal of the program is 50 participants. During Summer 1990, 42 students attended.
Although the percentage of first-year minority medical students has increased, the percentage is still embarassingly low. However, we should realize that the minority population won't increase overnight. The Med Center's active role serves as an example for college recruiters everywhere.
Sarah Bly for the editorial board
Campus safety
Crime prevention tips are helpful and important
In 1989, 1,344 crimes were reported to KU police, but more than half the offenses involved crimes against property and were preventable.
"As with most college campuses, we do not see large amounts of violent crime, but we make up for it in vandalism, burglar-type reports," said KU police LT. John Mullens.
The recent murders of five University of Florida students, although infinitely more traumatic than most campus offenses, serve to us that universities are not free from crime.
The KU police suggest the following meas ures for personal and property safety:
■ Avoid isolated places after class hours.
Walk with friends, using well-lighted, well-travelled routes.
Know the locations of public and emergency phones. Twelve emergency blue phones are
Don't hitchhike or pick up strangers.
Don't leave your belongings unattended in public.
Always lock your car.
■ At home, don't leave valuables in open view
■ Immediately hang up on obscene or prank phone callers.
- Don't leave valuables in your car in view.
Mullens suggests drapping a towel over the dashboard to cover the radio and locking it.
This can be dangerous, as usually will not break into a car to search it.
- Always lock your door when you are sleeping or gone, and keep windows closed and locked.
- Engrave all valuable property with an identifying number, and keep records of serial numbers of your property.
- Insure your property against loss or damage.
Although following these measures may take a little extra time, they are important. And if you witness a crime or suspicious activity, call the police.
We hope that following these guidelines will keep the crime total for the 1990-91 academic year down to a fraction of last year's total.
Carol B. Shiney for the editorial board
More than a fan
Ryan Gray should remind us of fragility of life
“R yan made us all realize how meaningless basketball really was. If I had not heard it,
bed and wake the next morning, and you still go on. That's what Ryan taught us."
Those are the words of Jeff Gueldner, former KU basketball guard. He was speaking of the late Ryan Gray, the Jayhawk's lucky charm. Ryan died Thursday at the age of 17 of an inoperable brain tumor
Ryan's inspiration swelled far beyond the walls of Allen Field House. The memory of his smiling face will serve as a reminder that life too fragile to be taken for granted.
He showed the team the importance of trying to succeed, no matter how difficult the task at
hand. Through his enthusiasm, he gave the players hope on the court. Through determination and courage, he chose to live his life to the fullest extent while not letting his disability hold him back.
Bob Frederick, KU athletic director, said "It meant a lot to everyone that Ryan was just there." Just knowing someone is there is a comforting feeling when the terrain ahead looks rough. Ryan provided that feeling for everyone around him.
We all can learn from Ryan Gray's short life.
The University will miss its favorite fan.
Buck Taylor for the editorial board
Other Voices
ride home late at night. There have been five University of Florida students slain by an apparent serial killer or killers, and many people in that community are deeply apprehensive about their safety. The officers must be able to be reassuring to students who might tend to look over their shoulders in the aftermath of the Gainesville tragedies.
Then there is the element of eliminating potential killers behind the wheels of motor vehicles and off the streets. Let us hope those in need of the KU service are coherent or bright enough to use it.
The University of Kansas Secure Cab takes on added significance in light of the tension on the University of Florida's campus in Gainesville.
From the Lawrence Journal-World.
RYAN'S LOVE AND COURAGE SHOULD NEVER LEAVE OUR 2012.
LETTERS to the EDITOR
University should divest
Cabs offer safe rides
Unfortunately, the University, through the association's investments in South Africa, continues to profit from the exploitation of Black people. With the chancellor's recent announcement that a new legislation passed by the University Council, one wonders if Budg really wants liberty and justice for all.
Clark H. Coan class of 1979
Many universities across the nation, heeding the opinion of their students and faculty, did proceed to divest. In fact, it has been said that the withdrawal campaign resulted in the withdrawal of businesses from South Africa and the imposition of strict economic sanctions. In turn, this economic pressure, combined with an upsurge in resistance by the Black majority, has the South African government move toward abolishing apartheid.
Five years ago the University Council, Student Senate and the student body (a referendum) voted in favor of divestment by the Kansas University Endowment Association to move doing business in South Africa. In addition, nearly 70 students and alumni were installed in sit-ins supporting divestment. Nevertheless, despite the overwhelming sentiment for divestment, Chancellor Gene A. Russo used to ask the association to divest.
The KU service offers free rides for students who have been drinking or those who simply are seeking a safe
Senate event distorted
In response to the article Jennifer Schultz wrote Aug. 31 about the Student Senate Leadership Training Seminar, I think it is necessary to defend Student Senate as a whole, so that it can be particularly particular. In the article, Schultz wrote that Senate overspend student fees on the seminar, which is not entirely true. While it was acknowledged that Senate spent more than in previous years, I think the wording of the article was purposefully slanted to make Senate look bad and to suggest there is careless spending of student fees.
Although Senate did spend more than in the past, I think it is necessary to look at the overall picture. Schultz wrote that only 40 of 85 senators attended the event when, in fact, 59 of 74 actually attended. Granted, the number did fall off somewhat during the day, but most of those who left did attend at least one session of the previous years who didn't need to learn how Senate is run. It is also necessary to look at the fact that had Senate continued with the recent practice holding the seminar in
Topeka with an overnight stay in a hotel included, the cost would have been much greater than it was.
Eric Shoup Business senator
Hall should be commended for getting much better attendance than in the past, a 30 percent increase, and keeping the cost much lower than it could have been. At at time when the University needs a lot of leadership, unity and effort to make this a better learning environment, I think the Kansan and Schultz need to support Senate and Hall and not make us out to be a group of students who don't care.
Settle issues together
Be aware that unrest on campus does have a tendency to filter into the community and can bring about major problems for all of us. Some of you may remember the riots of the '70s. When deciding whether the word Black is capitalized or not breed up an unrest to the point of burning books, computers, or that not only college students but also a community need to put our heads together and begin to settle some of these unsettling issues.
I am a married Black female, born and raised in Lawrence, and I am raising two children, working full-time at the University of Kansas part-time.
I feel one of the real issues is that students have not and will not forget the conflicts that occurred during Spring 1990. Why? What is happening now that keeps these students from forgetting the past? Is the Office of Minority Affairs as inactive as the Black students vally admit?
Second, I read that there are many Black alumni in prominent positions who will not contribute money to the University because they know it will go to White students and not to Black students. We also please present the facts about the university, as well as the figures on the true, of the prominent Black alumni?
Third, there are expectations that a White Student Union may develop. Why not have an All-Student Union where representatives from all the colleges meet? What about settling these issues before things become totally out of hand?
In conclusion, how a particular word is presented seems to be such a small issue compared to what really seems to be happening around us.
Cathy White
Lawrence freshman
Watch for falling books
According to Wednesday's Kansas, after a skateboard fell from the second story patio of Wesco Hall and, "hit a woman, who was sitting in the cafeteria area below," skateboarding was prohibited on campus.
It's a good thing the skateboard wasn't a book.
John Thissen Lawrence graduate student
Tax plan isn't harmful
This letter is written in response to Gov. Mike Hayden's remarks about Joan Finney's tax plan. His lack of knowledge is appalling. First, Finney's tax is not a value added tax system. Second, he mentioned that such a tax plan would devastate agriculture and drive other businesses from the state. Such is not the case.
Finney merely advocates broadening the sales tax base (not raising the rate) by the elimination of sales tax exemptions. This would be done by the initial placement of a 1 percent sales tax on some of the currently exempted money gathered would be used to reduce unnecessary shifts in property tax burden experienced during reappraisal and classification.
Larry Fischer Board of directors Kansans for Fair Taxation Inc.
Don't judge a book. . .
I would like to express my feelings concerning Marian Horvat's column Wednesday, titiled, "Some are learning to make life meaningful." I am not so much concerned about the campus as I am with the way she classifies her work says in her column, "Walking down the sidewalks of the campus and watching faces, imperceptibly realize I have begun to classify my fellow students." I believe this statement is a basis of her prejudice. Looking at her face may be classify people, for her face as different as anybody else's.
Horvat goes further to prejudge people according to certain physical characteristics. According to Horvat, "Other students are fooils... And they reveal themselves in a variety of ways — a look in the eye, a certain frown, even a style of dress or haircut."
For all she knows, that certain frown could have meant that the person had just failed a test. That certain frown in no way implies "a wretchedness or skepticism for the myth of the Establishment", as she puts it.
Brian Wolf Chicago sophomore
U.S. motives are wrong
Much sophistry has been used to justify sending U.S. troops to Saudi Arabia. For instance, President Bush gave as one objective for Operation Desert Shield the restoration of power for the rightful rulers of Kuwait. Why would the United States, a champion of democracy, risk the lives of its soldiers to restore an emir to power?
The true motive of the United States has to do with control of Middle Eastern oil and ultimately, money. Money should not be a motivation for war. U.S. troops should not be in Saudi Arabia.
Jay Lindgren graduate student
KANSAN STAFF
DEREK SCHMIDT
Editor
KJERSTIN GABRIELSON Managing editor
TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser
Editors
News Julie Mettenburg
Editorial Mary Neubauer
Planning Pam Solliner
Campus Holly Lawson
Sports Brent Maycoy
Photo Andrew Morrison
Features Stacy Smith
MARGARET TOWNSEND Business manager
Business staff
Campus sales mgr. Chester Dost
Regional sales mgr. Jackie Schmidtbrust
National sales mgr. David Price
Co-op sales mgr. Deborah Salzer
Production mgr. Missy Miller
Production assistant. Jule Akland
Marketing director. Audra Langford
Creative director. Gail Einbinder
MARKETS manager
MORRIS MORRIS
Retail sales manager
JEANNE HINES
Sales and marketing adviser
Business staff
Letters should be typed, double-spaced and less than 200 words. They must include the writer's name, institution, and a brief description of the Western affiliated with the University of Kansas that includes class and faculty, or facility.
Greet columns should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be photographed.
The Kansan receiver right the right to reject or edit letters, goen columns and cartons. They can be mailled or brought to the Kansan newroom, 111 Snuffer Hall, Letters, columnes and cartons 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.
Home Remedies
By Tom Mlchaud