OPINION
November 8,1984
Page 4
The University Daily KANSAN
The University Daily KANSAN
Published since 1889 by students of the University of Kansas
The University, Daily Kisan, UPSM 606440 is published at the University of Kansas, 118 Stairford Flint Hall Lawrence, Kans. 60045, daily during the regular school year and Wednesday and Friday during the summer session, excluding Saturday, Sunday, half periods and second class postage付帖 at Lawrence, Kans. 60044 Subscriptions by mail are for $15 for six months or $2 per year in Douglas County and $18 for six months or $3 a year outside the county. Student subscriptions must be addressed to the University Post Office and address changes to the University Kisan, Daily Kisan 118 Stairford Flint Hall Lawrence, Kans. 60045
DON KNOX
Editor
PAUL SEVART
Managing Editor
VINCE HESS
Editorial Editor
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Campus Editor
SUSANNE SHAW
General Manager and News Adviser
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One down.
Campaign signs have been discarded along with some candidates' dreams and other candidates' promises.
Pollsters have taken their adding machines and prediction sheets home. Few people even remember what the countless number of polls predicted from one day to the next.
Television advertisements will once again be persuading viewers to buy products instead of包装ed candidates.
Viewers to buy products must be spelling Students who have spent hours of their semester working on the campaigns can get back to the books and try to salvage their grades.
Those who spent their time working for the Republican party probably have found plenty of satisfaction in seeing the bountiful fruits that their labors reaped.
Yet students who believed in the Democratic ticket and all it offered should not think that their laboring was in vain.
Although they did not share in a comparable harvest of congressional seats or victories on the state and local levels, the Democrats' toil and sweat nevertheless contributed in big waves to this year's campaign.
But it's over.
No more wondering whether Mondale beat Ronald Reagan in the first of their televised debates, or whether Geraldine Ferraro could hold her own on the long and sometimes exacting campaign trail.
No more opening the pages of the newspaper and, for the seventh day in a row, having candidate profiles taking up countless inches of space, when readers had already had enough.
There's a sense of relief in knowing that the campaigning and the elections are over.
Until a look at the University calendar shows that Student Senate elections are a week away.
Senate coalitions
The columns will be published today and tomorrow
Elections for Student Senate are Nov. 14 and 15. To help inform readers about the coalitions that are running as candidates for Senate, the Kansan is publishing columns submitted by the coalitions.
Hot-dogging on porn
WASHINGTON — With nary a challenge, Sen. Arlen Specter R-Penn, wins the "hot dog" award as the Senate's top publicity hound during the current congressional recess.
For those not familiar with sports terminology, "hot dog," a derogatory term, is bestowed on athletes who grandstand for the fans, very often to make up for a lack of natural skills.
As chairman of the Senate juvenile justice subcommittee, Specter wins the award for a series of hearings he has conducted.
Specter, after four years in the Senate, appears to have learned what all his colleagues know but most do not take advantage of: The best time to conduct a hearing is during the dog days of a recess.
One network reporter, shut out by the dearth of news on Capitol Hill, feels saved every week by Specter's extravaganzas because they get that reporter on camera. Other network reporters, to say simply, print types, are equally thankful but perhaps less demonstrative.
Committee hearings, during a recess, are rare. In the weeks since Congress adjourned, perhaps half a dozen hearings have occurred — three of them by Specter's subcommittee. Moreover, Specter's hearings are sure-fire publicity gatherers.
Who can resist hearings on such topics as corporal punishment in schools, violence on television, and pornography? Who can neglect tales of teachers who crack knuckles, mayhem that is shown on the tube or good old smut that is easily available?
the mayhem they watch, and a pair of women who appear in pornographic movies — and don't seem to mind it at all.
To his credit, Specter, 54,
obtains some witnesses for the
hearings who have legitimate
expertise in these fields.
To balance the lineup, Specter has listened to the tales of a young lady who still feels the sting of a long-age punishment; two little tykes of about 5 years old who love
Specter, as chairman of the juvenile justice subcommittee, can wander pretty much where he wants. After all, few things fail to
STEVE GERSTEL
Basically, the role of a subcommittee is to determine the extent of a problem, the remedies, if any, and the drafting of legislation. Specter, however, certainly is not charting unknown areas.
United Press International
touch the lives of children.
Just what Specter can add with his hearings to the knowledge that already exists on these issues is difficult to fathom. Even more so is to figure out what kind of federal remedy he could propose.
Corporal punishment in schools appears to be a matter that has been settled at the local level in almost all public jurisdictions.
The Supreme Court for years has wrestled with the question of what is and what is not pornography, and what is protected by the Constitution. In addition, the problem of violence on television has been examined in any number of forums.
Thus, only one conclusion is possible: Pink-red bottoms, tiny tots glued to mayhem on the screen and porn flick stars telling how it feels are to tie up for a hot scene are a sure way to get Spector's name in the papers and his picture on television.
Revised structure would work better
It's time to wake up, folks. Cut through the campaign rhetoric and issues you hear year after year. There must be some reason we hear the same grind about campus safety and student involvement every year; because it never gets done. How can so many well-intentioned people never quite live up to what they had hoped and promised? Because our student government structure simply won't allow it.
Our structure demands so much maintenance that senators find themselves busily wasting valuable time and energy defining, redefining, rewriting and interpreting their own rules and regulations. Student Senate spends so much time on itself that the administration has stopped listening and the student body has stopped caring. Several people on our coalition have been senators in this structure, and we're sick of seeing the waste and inefficiency of this system. Many of our supporters and coalition members who have not worked on Senate are excited about the prospect of making Senate mean something again.
of the student body. We want to see representation by living groups and geographic location. This would mean that one representative from every fraternity, sorority, scholarship hall and floor of a residence hall.
All 42 members of Toto think that we have a positive proposal which will revive the system and the voice
TIM CHRIS
BOLLER COFFELT
& Tote Tag
as well as one representative for every 70 students off campus, would form the student assembly.
& Toto To
Just think. You would actually know who was representing you. You would live with or close to the person who votes on policies for the student body. You would stand a better chance of being represented with your government, and you would stand a better chance of having input into the issues your
representative votes on. The student assembly would not be a debating body. It would be a voting body. At the committee level, the committee and council level.
The council would be a group of seven people elected from the student assembly. They would take the responsibilities now handled by the president and the vice president. Each person could spend more quality time and energy focused on fewer responsibilities. The council would function much like the mayor-council system of many cities, in which the mayor has no more power than the others, but serves as the figurehead with no veto power.
Toto also wants to see a stronger committee structure. Any student would be able to participate actively in establishing policies or programs he or she wants to see happen. These task force committees would stimulate active work that would keep the students active and productive. The committees that Senate now has allow members, and their function is to pick apart rather than to put together.
The ideas we have for a new
structure were devised from effective student governments across the nation, from Northwestern University to the University of Oregon. We have also brought in many ideas from the structures of many city and county governments.
This short explanation does not cover all the proposals we have, nor is it likely to fend off all assaults or answer all the questions, but it does give you something to think about. Changing our structure is not radical — it is practical and essential. With more students involved in student government, the administration will be able to take care of themselves and provide education, and students themselves will be able to appreciate and utilize their government structure.
Too thinks that the new structure will allow us to deal effectively with minority issues and the concerns of non-traditional students and, yes, even campus lighting. With a stronger voice and renewed interest from students, we can leave behind a structure concerned with students' work for it, and turn to a structure that exists for the whole student body.
Chris Coffelt is a Hays senior; Tim
Boller is a St. Joseph, Mo., senior.
Silent majority needs representation
On Nov. 14 and 15, the students of the University of Kansas will take part in an election that will decide the fate of the Student Senate for years to come This fate will be put into the hands of the candidates that the students elect to fill Student Senate offices. In order to decide who they will elect, the students will mail through the political rhetoric to find the candidates who will best represent their ideas and their thinking.
The Reality Coalition is a breath of fresh air to these potential voters because it takes a clear stand on the controversial issues that the other coalitions would rather avoid. We have based our decisions not on their potential to bring in votes, but on their fairness and justice. We want people to know what type of thinking and ideology we are going to use once they are elected. We want their students to see that there is a clear difference between us and the other coalitions by addressing the controversial issues.
Although this is not a one-issue campaign, we are the only coalition that has taken a strong stand on the funding of Gay and Lesbian Services
of Kansas and then explained exactly why we took the stand that we did. Sure, all of the issues are important, but how much can the candidates differ on such issues as campus safety, parking services, the new
PAMELA JOHN
RUTHERFORD McDERMOTT
Reality
science library location and extended bus service hours?
All of the coalitions agree that improvements and adjustments need to be made in these areas. Quite simply, the Senate needs to find the solution and implement it. It doesn't take much integrity to rant and rave about campus safety, everyone is already for it.
The real issue in this election is which philosophy and what kind of people do you want running your Senate. Because of the diversity of philosophies that are available to choose from in this election, students must take time to find the one that best fits their attitudes and ideas. It has been the mistake in the past when students share the same ideas as the majority of the students, but rather the ideas of a select few.
Reality stands for the betterment of the University as a whole, and not for overemphasis and unbalanced concern for the very specific special interest groups that have demanded more attention than is fairly due them. We want to represent the silent majority of the students whose concerns have been overlooked because of their inability to be heard over the loud roar of these special interest groups.
We think that students are tired of politicians who don't stand with conviction on the issues but waver back and forth attempting to discern what would be "politically advantageous." Reality has conviction concerning the issues. We stand
behind everything that we say with a heartfelt belief in what is right. We have conviction in seeing that the students' concerns are attended to. We're not self-serving; the candidates who make up the coalition are deeply interested in seeing the represented fairly and accurately.
An opposing candidate, commenting on this coalition, said, "Reality, you are sincere." He was right; we are very sincere, but sincerity is not enough. You must be sincere about the right things. In the recent past, we have had student leaders who were very sincere about their opinions. We cannot share the opinions and ideas of the student body. Reality is sincere, and yet it is in touch with the concerns and ideas of the student body.
There is a genuine yearning in students on this campus to see that feeling of pride and attitude of winning brought back to KU. Reality can see it beginning to happen and desires to bring it to fulfillment.
John McDermott is a Manhattan junior; Pamela Rutherford is a Cape Cod, Mass., sophomore.
Coalition seeks openness,production
We realize that there are other coalitions besides the Fresh Vegetables Coalition that would like to have your vote, but we're not impressed with the facades they have displayed thus far. We don't talk fast or look sharp, but we do things for you that could go far beyond the other coalitions. Talk we could, if elected, improve the quality of communications by improving communications between you and the Student Senate.
We're the Fresh Vegetables and we'd like to rotate the crops in the Senate. We decided that we wanted to be your voice in government because our emotions regarding production from the Senate ranged from unimpressed to disgruntled You, the average student, have no avenue for getting your ideas into the Senate and you will keep an open four evenings each week. One of us will be there waiting to hear from you. This is our personal commitment to listen to you at your convenience.
you in other ways, though you may not realize it. We want a late bus so that you can avoid driving while intoxicated, endangering the lives of you and your friends and risking a
TOM CHRIS
RODENBERG ADMUSSEN
Fresh Vegetables
$1,000 fine. We went out and surveyed people on campus and found that the vast majority of you (almost 90 percent) would ride the bus. You can see that we're concerned for your safety.
This brings us to campus lighting. We spent a lot of time at the KU
rence collecting the crime statistics and analyzing them. We realize that our proposal may not be as attractive and flashy as the others that have been offered to you, but we also realize that it is financially impossible to obtain funding to give your campus 24-hour daylight.
Other coalitions have overlooked this. We also found that last year there was one rape that occurred on our campus. Other coalitions have overlooked this, too. Others have promised you everything under the moon; is there money for it? Do we need it? The answer to both questions is NO! We will give you a limited number of lights strategically placed to offer the most light possible under the financial restraints, along with literature to inform you of unit areas to avoid.
This year the main purpose of those plastic coilitions seems to be to offend no one. Some people disagree with what we have said at the debates, but at least everyone goes away knowing where we stand and what to expect.
Does the plastic hide something?
Well, put yourself in their place.
Your greatest merit is now the fact that you have served on the Senate.
You are strangely lacking in results. Your last resort is to chastise those without Senate experience and to mistase the facts in hopes that no one will notice. Would you like some plastic?
We are proud of our stands. That's why we spent what limited funds we had on printing platforms and distributing them on Wescoe beach. We'll keep up that same kind of openness. If elected, we'll make available a copy of the budget and get your input on it. We know that you will like knowing where your money is going.
On Nov. 14 and 15, vote VEGE TABLE. You need us and we need your vote.
Chris Admussen is a Clayton, Mo.
junior; Tom Rodenberg is a New
Ulm, Minn.; senior.
Ability to get job done is key factor
Recently, Mark "Gilligan" Sump,
Momentum presidential candidate,
let a petition drive to ensure the
future of the beautiful area north of
the Military Science Building. With
more than 4,000 signatures in hand,
he went to the administration,
expressed the students' concern and
convinced the administration to
consider alternative sites for the
proposed science and technology
library.
The trees will be saved. Momentum thinks that this sort of leadership is essential in representing the needs of students at the University of Kansas
Charles Lawhorn, vice presidential candidate for Momentum, has had vast experience in representing students' concerns before the administration. Two years ago he introduced legislation that got the ball rolling to provide lighting at Stouffer Place — a high-crime area on campus. Since that time he has been researching a proposal to light
up all areas of campus where lighting is badly needed. That research has now come to fruition, and we are now ready to proceed with a comprehensive master-plan for a lighting system at KU Momentum thinks
CHARLES MARK
LAWHORN SUMP
Momentum
that students have the right to feel safe on campus after dark. This would also make night classes more desirable.
Lawhorn's dedication to the safety and desirability of campus is essential to this University He has a proven will to fight for the students at KU.
corrupt government ballets were randomly tossed in the trash. The election was declared invalid by Chancellor Gene A. Budig.
For several years Momentum has been providing leadership for the students at KU. Two years ago we opened the door for the majority of students who never had a voice in student government. And progress began — long before there ever was a Costume Party. Last year, Momentum was responsible for disintegrating a highly conservative and
Momentum realizes that Parking Services is nothing more than a self-perpetuating, money-making organization. It profits no one and exploits students. It assumes that a victim is guilty until proved innocent. It suggests that a student's parking violation is not the first progress. Momentum will fight to stop Parking Services' capacity to 'bold student records'.
invalid by Chancellor Gene A. Budig.
This year, Momentum stands for leadership and the ability to get a job done. The presidents of three of the largest organizations on campus — Black Student Union, Association of University Residence Halls and College Young Democrats — are members of Momentum. Dorm presidents, leading figures in social organizations and living groups, students with the sincere desire to make this University better for students, students fighting for students — this is the makeup of Momentum.
From year to year, Momentum has grown stronger. This is the year for effective student leadership Vote will be heard at 14 and 15. Your vote will be heard
Mark "Gilligan" Sump is a Law-
rence senior; Charles Lawhorn is a
Kansas City, Kan., junior.
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