UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN editorslals
Unsigned editors represent the opinion of the Kansan editorial staff. Signed columns represent the views of
November 29, 1979
Athletics remain split
University and state officials seem well versed in the tactics of rhetoric, apologies, delays and finger-pointing at the federal government for its interference in higher education. But nowhere, it seems, are such stalling tactics as important discussions on how to fund women's athletics at state colleges.
Discussions of how to meet Title IX regulations on funding of women's athletics have continually been marked by lines such as "We're doing our best in a bad situation," and "We're moving ahead as fast as we can without damaging the men's programs." Mostly, officials like to point to the Department of Health, Education and Welfare and say that the federal government is demanding much in too short of a time.
THE FACT of the matter is that HEW is demanding some rapid changes—but not without cause. At the University of Kansas, women's programs received only 39.3 percent of the funding for nonrevenue sports, while men's nonrevenue sports are more available. Those are very real numbers, and HEW rightly sees them as very real problems.
Yet, the University still seems stuck with the same old script. Richard Von Ende, KU secretary executive, told the
Legislative Educational Planning Committee that although KU felt "very strongly that we have to do more than we have done" in support of the school's women's athletics programs, "we're trying to get there."
TRUE, THE University does understand the necessity of doing more than they have done. Unfortunately, that understanding seems to come from the pressure applied by HEW and the real dedication to solving the problem.
If the University administration had such a dedication, the problem would not be as severe as it is now and the avenues to resolution of the problem would seem more urgent. In fact, it would have such a dedication, it would be pursuing those avenues.
Yes, the administration did finally merge the two athletic departments and has increased funding.
WHAT THE University offers the women and the men concerned with improving women's athletics is anologies, but not solutions.
The University structure has many channels of influence. For too long, however, those channels have been given the advantage of the men's program.
Apologies for the discrepancies are well founded. But solutions would be more well received.
Move support needed for endangered species
In 1973, Congress passed the Endangered Species Act to protect threatened animal species from man and his destructive ways.
Since then, the number of threatened animal species protected by this law has increased. As scientists fear this number will continue to grow greatly, unless more effort is drawn to protect it.
Wildlife preserves have been established across the nation to protect the endangered animals, and currently there are 387 refuges. Since 1973, more laws also have been put in place for listing fines and jail sentences to protect various animals. But this has not done the job.
MORE MONEY is needed for the purchase of land to establish more preserves. This requires a more efficiently operate and maintain these preserves. The problem is finding where the land is located.
But each year more animals are added to the ever-lengthening endangered species list. And more will continue to be added to the list of threatened and obsession for material goods increases.
WE CONTINUE to turn land into resort areas and bison development or use it as a farm for raising livestock in more food. This, in turn, diminishes the amount of land necessary for animals to live on.
Pollution also poses a threat to wildlife. Although we are better able to cope with pollutants, animals are more limited
Environmental groups have appealed to the state and federal governments for bigger appropriations. But their demands are too often ignored, largely because of big business interests, which stand to lose if environmental laws are made stricter.
because they live in a more sensitive habitat. Hunting and pesticides also threaten their existence.
But a question may be asked about why we even need to protect wildlife.
The answer centers, quite simply, on the fact that any threat to wildlife and the environment is a threat to us because we are part of the ecological system, too.
THE EXINTinction of an animal species interrupts a vital and sensitive food chain. The extinction leads to their deaths, and ultimately to the extinction of various other species. Sooner than ever, humans have
ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION is needed to set aside more land for wildlife preserves and to appropriate more money for the protection of endangered animals in preserves. In addition, stronger laws protecting endangered animals and stronger enforcement of those laws are needed.
Let us hope that legislative bodies will realize their important role in this matter, which is almost as important as energy and the economy to our country's future.
Undoubtedly, the burden of further protection of endangered animals falls primarily on state and federal governments.
But most important, public awareness of the gravness of the problem, and a public commitment to doing something about it, must be now made to such legislation a reality.
David Halberstam has in his Pultzer Prize-winning book, "The Best and the Brightest," which told the story of American involvement into the 90s with a momentous force of optimism and self-assurance, that it was on the road to greatness. The new leaders the country—and their men—were just the ones to take it there.
Death of decade deserves review
But, as William Manchester says in "The
Journals and the Journal of American
History," the Americans, like the picture
of the 1850s for many people is that of
protestors rushing on the flag and cursing
Thus, the '70s seem to many to be the calm after the storm. The '70s are embodied in a
COLUMNIST
david preston
new generation that is less concerned with political activism and causes and more concerned with the advancement of the self-and self-interests, in a materialistic sense.
WHILE THE generalizations about the two decades are not to be held as wholly accurate, they do reflect a characterization of the national mood. The 60s were rebellious and negative. The 70s
But are the 70s so passive? Or are they, as many as possible, still struggling with progress? Regardless, there are distinct differences between these two decades that most college students have
The manifestations of these differences may be found in nearly all phases of society, from the national mood regarding the arts to the sports in clothing and music.
THE MUSIC of the '80s was the "drug culture" perhaps most important in the lyrics of their songs. The music of Woodstock contrasts sharply with the flaży, superficial, electronic beat and raucous sound.
poor, and, indeed, Johnson set as his main priority the building of a beneficent government dedicated to helping the poor and deprived. Johnson's administration saw the enactment of the 1964 Civil Rights Bill and the expansion of low-cost, federally funded universities. The government obliged Federal dollars flowed freely from Washington, but all was not well.
In baseball, Willie Mays was loved in the '50s, Roger Maris was reinforced and chastised in the '60s, and Pete Rose was idolized in the '70s. Johnson's own career was the quite different from the present hit musicals, "Annie" and "A Chorus Line." In the '60s, the New Deal programs of federal aid for the needy made a final appearance in the form of Lyndon Johnson's inaugural address, but President Johnson and Kennedy came to office talking of a genuine concern for the
IN SPITE of the yearment handouts, bumble exploded in the year from 1865 to 1898 as blacks in the Los Angeles Wats ripped at the heat and the citizens began to protest.
As a reaction to the increasing burden placed on the taxpayer to support fees for government services and for fiscal conservatism, during which time Medicaid, Social Security and all forms of insurance were provided.
criticism. The trend toward fiscal conservatism reached a peak in 1978 when legislators sensed that the mood of the country was changing and tax cuts at nearly every level. As Proposition 13 and other similar measures swotted the United States, it became obvious that the New Deal programs, which had such a valuable revival in the 90s, were dead.
ANOTHER DISCERNABLE difference occurred on college campuses. Colleges and universities were frequently scenes of conflict, and the plight of blacks. The mood of the campus was liberal activism, as the Black philosopher Richard Hoffman became spokesmen for the youth of America. Long hair and sloppy attire surrounded young black students were mixing their activism with
Tribute to the '70s
studying for degrees in sociology or history. Schools from Columbia to Berkeley were moved by the Nixon administration, rejected the moves of the establishment, particularly those of the Nixon administration.
Then in 1909, there was ugly violence at the University. In 1912, State University. Four students died when National Guardsm opened fire on a group of protesting students; the dead students were killed.
IN THE '98S, 695 students would admit to attending college for the purpose of getting ahead in the job market. Today, more than 70 percent of the college national survey. There are more business, computer science and engineering majors than ever before, as students are attracted to colleges offering bachelor's degrees; schools are jammed with prospective time seekers. Traditional college activities such as attending football games and dating other students, instances, replaces rallies and protests.
The fun loving spirit of the college student has returned. Protests are few and poorly attended at most colleges and apathy about politics is widespread. College-age voters can get involved in elements in society, but the question of how liberal they really are is quite debatable.
It is only fair to note that although there are differences in the two decades, there are some similarities. The continued unabated in the 70s. The increase of sex and violence in television and motion pictures, the rising divorce rate, and the rise of political leaders are some examples.
CERTAIN nation-shattering events, such as the assassinations of two Kennedys and Martin Luther King Jr. in the 86s, and the Watergate scandal and the oil embargo in the 70s, are distinctive marks upon each period. The calm restraint and general wisdom of the 80s marked change from the unsure 80s that began with hope and ende in turmoil.
The really important question of the 70s, however, is whether the 70s, with all its outward tranquility, have been as positive as it seems. Many journalists, such as Alexis Dudley, have seen seem to have made the 70s in nothing but an illusion. The outward calm could merely be a cover to an abundance of problems brewing beneath the surface. The war in the Middle East, oil crises and racism in present, but are concealed superficially.
11 such is the case, then the '80s should be the true gauge of how positive the '70s really were.
Abortion contradicts idea of freedom
To the Editor:
This is in reply to Ms. McKown's letter earlier in the month. I am not a member of any pro-life movement; these are my own thoughts drawn from my own convictions. It is important to me that the choice" article was trying to get the point across that no group or individual can have the "right" to make a choice on abortion. For myself, the basic argument is freedom. No group or individual human being has the right to take the life of any other human being.
IN FURTHER comment on McKown's don't have to be "mugged" from the getting "mugged" from the explotation" of the handicapped. If one reason to the conclusion that abortion is wrong is that it
I realize that public opinion is high on the
mind. I think it's important to make it a
cleaner or nooner. I believe anti-abortionists
should organize considerably more than they are now; start to solve the problem.
UNIVERSITY DAILY letters KANSAN
Elimination of the need for abortions through education or contraception methods and morality should be their emphasis. They must also face the responsibilities of their actions.
euthanasia is also immoral. That is where the analogy is drawn, but only to show consistency in the reasoning process. One should always be on guard for the emotional argument, that which McKown first condemns and then proceeds to utilize to her own advantage and analogies from WWII Germany to our society as inconsistent as its policies were
Although I obviously disagree with McKown's assertion that society has only one reason to abort, both losing propositions, I agree that no one should ever have the right to control another's reproductive life. I do. You can be a parent without being considered free without assuming any of the responsibility. If you want a choice, make it public. We need to stop killing the unborn.
George Schupp .Buffalo, N.Y., graduate student
George Schupp
To the Editor:
Abstaining from sex is best birth control
In the Nov. 27 Kansan, there was a lengthy article on the abortion dilemma. One option that neither your subjects nor the writer would accept is the formal form of birth control: not having sex.
I am not a monk or a religious fanatic, but all one has to do is consider how many unwanted pregnancies we have and unwanted pregnancies there are every year and it becomes very apparent that our children need more.
people have sex there is always the possibility of pregnancy, even with conjoined twins or a stillborn. Children of children or birth is prevented by abortion, Either of the options (a child or an abortion) is considered appropriate.
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prepared to face such a responsibility, then sex becomes a risky gamble.
Voting and change aren't synonymous
To the Editor:
A recent Kansan carried an editorial urging people to vote in the 1980 election. An assumption of the editorial was that a person's voting for a Republican or a Democrat in 1980 will make the U.S. government pay more to American citizens. This is open to question.
Before the last election, candidate Carter told Americans that our foreign policy should reflect a commitment to the security of the country and support the shah's dictatorship by approving a sale of $7.5 billion in military equipment and by providing the regime with the necessary financial resources. On the eve of the fall of Somalia's regime, Carter approved a loan to Somalia that was used to buy weapons for the government, and proposed that our coalition reserves be developed as an alternative to building nuclear generating plants. After the elec-
I will not say whether or not to vote in
a debate to advise people to judge critically
whether the candidate wins candidate are fulfilled. And, on the basis of this judgement, I suggest that the candidates who were well-bearer served by voting for the Republican or the Democrat in subsequent elections
Mark Cline
Medicine Lodge senior
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