4
University Daily Kansan
Opinion
Tuesday, Sept. 17, 1985
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
"It will give us more of a chance to meet the guys and not just get drunk."
A toast to dry rush
"If it's illegal, it's illegal. We're not going to put the house on the line."
Encouraging words last week from fraternity members about the requirement that their rush parties be "dry" this school year.
The increase from 18 to 19 this summer in Kansas' legal drinking age for 3.2 percent beer means fraternities will break the law if they serve alcohol to high school students at rush parties this year.
Most of the 27 residential fraternities on campus have planned sports events and non-alcoholic parties to patch the gap in the social planner left after the Kansas Legislature voted to raise the legal age.
The substitutes more than fill the void. Fraternities may be realizing that they are
better able to select members with alcohol out of the picture.
Not to say all fraternities think so.
One fraternity member said, "It'd be a lie to say that some houses won't continue to serve alcohol. It will be a phase-in type of thing."
For years, sorority rush at the University has been alcohol-free. Rushees and sorority members seem comfortable with that stipulation.
Realistically, maybe. But from a legal standpoint, KU fraternities don't have the luxury of adjusting to the law. It's already two months old.
And for fraternities and sororites at colleges in states where the legal drinking age is 19 or higher, dry rush parties usually are accepted as a fact of greek life.
If early indications are any clue, KU fraternities will be the next to accept dry rush.
The commercial aviation industry has passed from adolescence into middle age. The sleek machines of yesterday are getting a little tired; sagging tails, wheezing engines, popping rivets.
Airline safety declining
financially strapped companies to cut costs.
Advances in aeronautic technology and safety have come at a dizzying pace since the 1950s when commercial flight began in earnest, but the death toll from commercial air disasters is higher this year than ever before.
Perhaps no direct correlation exists, but the increase in disasters and narrowly averted mishaps appears to coincide with federal deregulation of the industry. Sharpened competition forces
The decline in frequent and thorough mechanical checks is bound to take its toll, especially with planes past their prime. Flight attendant training for disaster situations is often inadequate.
Many statisticians have taken pains to point out that flying is less risky than driving a car or crossing a busy street.
the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating both problems.
While this may be true, the risks of flying should not increase in this golden age of technology, and no statistics can justify unnecessary deaths.
A worthy addition
With all the duplication of college programs in the state, it's refreshing to encounter a proposal that satisfies a genuine need, yet doesn't dump a large, additional burden on taxpayers.
The plan has several advantages. It would offer technical training, which now is available only outside the area. Local businesses and industries' could use the proposed center to provide educational programs that otherwise would require traveling to Johnson County Community College or Washburn University.
Officials at Haskell Indian Junior College and local business leaders want to establish a technology education center at the school. The center would offer courses similar to those normally found at community colleges, vocational and technical schools. Local legislators, notably Sen. Wint Winter Jr., R-Lawrence, are working to gain state financing for the program.
Most important, this could be accomplished without the
expense of building a community college in Douglas County, which the state can't afford and doesn't need.
One obstacle to the plan is the federal law that limits the use of Haskell's classrooms to Indian students. Some Haskell students and staff, understandably, are suspicious of any community effort to take over their school.
The law wisely seeks to guarantee this would not occur. But it could be modified to allow use of Haskell by the community and still maintain the school's regular curriculum for Indian students.
Another obstacle is the question of state financing. One more extended hand when the state parcels out higher education dollars would strain an already tight budget.
But it would do so at a much lower cost than building a new school. Although there are too many community colleges in Kansas, this area could use a community technology center. Haskell is the perfect, low-cost site for such a school.
Rob Karwath
Editor
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John Hanna Michael Totty
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Campus editor
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Divestment hurts blacks
Apparently the Soviets have decided the world is starving for communism. So the Kremlin has formed itself into a new group, "USSR for AFRICA." They have a new tune that's sure to knock 'em dead. It's called "We Want the World."
There is no doubt that the Soviets want U.S. businesses to divest their South African holdings because it is in the Soviets' best interests that they do so.
However, it is not in the best interest of blacks in South Africa who are dependent on the jobs provided by U.S. companies. Most blacks are against divestment.
The Rev. Jerry Fallwell was wrong when he called Bishop Desmond Tutu a phony. The media are the phones. They have crowned Tutu the sole spokesman for all blacks in South Africa. This simply is not true.
Gatsha Butheleje is chief of the Zulus, South Africa's largest tribe with 6 million people. He said that "to exert pressures which do more harm than good to the oppressed than to the oppressors is madness."
Bulhetele said a civil war was starting between the Zulus and South Africa's second largest black organization, the United Democratic Front. He called the front a "slimy steppingstone" for the outlawed African National Congress, which is controlled by Marxist guerrillas.
South Africa has 10 tribes, each wanting to be in control of post-apartheid South Africa. Thus, South Africa is faced with a possible civil
Victor Goodpasture
Staff columnist
war with 10 different tribes righting in it. With such chaos, the Soviets would be in the position to install a Marxist regime that would permanently place South African blacks in chains.
One only has to look at Angola, Mozambique and Zimbabwe to see the domino theory at work. The domino theory states that once a country falls to communism, countries around it will eventually fall to communism.
The question political theorists have been asking themselves for years is this: If a domino falls, but the New York Times didn't hear it, did it happen?
Black leaders in South Africa favor the presence of U.S. corporations because they improve conditions for black workers. The Sullivan principles guarantee, among other things, that black working for American companies must be paid the same as their white counterparts.
By the same token, the media have not told the American people the truth about confessed terrorist Nelson Mandela. On June 11, 1964, he was found guilty of four acts of sabotage to which he had admitted to. In his statement he said he had been "influenced by Marxist thought."
He listed many black leaders in South Africa who are against divestment, but complained bitterly that Americans only heard the voice of "media-appointed" Bishop Tutu.
would only hurt the black population. Williams said, "Foreign investment, in general, makes for a more robust economy than South Africa with the South African economy, the better for its black population."
Even Amnesty International has not worked for Mandela's release as a "prisoner of conscience" because she said the definition didn't fit him.
Each black worker supports about six other people. There are also 1.5 million blacks from surrounding countries working in South Africa. The pullout of American companies would mean absolute devastation for at least 10 to 12 million blacks. Hunger and starvation would follow, along with massive civil unrest.
Walter Williams, a black economics professor at George Mason University said divestment would not change South African apartheid and
would only hurt the black population
The most logical answer is continued Western influence on the South African economy and continued diplomatic pressure. Talks between moderate black leaders and the government must be encouraged
In the end, economic prosperity is the best way to halt the spread of communism in the region and rid South Africa of the terrible system of apartheid.
So what is the best way to end anarheid?
Mailbox
Columnist insults S. African blacks
First, Mr. Goodpasture called Mr. Nelson Mandela a terrorist, a fact which he implied does not warrant his release from jail. That was enough to insult Mr. Mandela and the millions of black South Africans who support him. When he went on to undermine and ridicule the role of the ANC (African National Congress) in the struggle of South African blacks, I knew then that the silence of South Africans on campus had to be broken.
Mr. Goodpasture's ignorance in these matters is no excuse, as the Watson Library is full of materials on the struggle in South Africa, as well as the history of the ANC.
I wish Mr. Goodpasture would stop misleading the KU students as well, as insulting the intelligence of the black South African. His allegation that communists are at the helm of the ANC reminds me of those who accused Dr. Martin Luther King of having communist leanings.
The killings of blacks by blacks, inasmuch as it is regrettable, has nothing to do with tribes. Blacks kill blacks who are collaborators with the racist government of South Africa, irrespective of their tribes.
10 suggest that the ANC has killed thousands of people is ridiculous. Throughout the ANC's struggle, they have struggled to minimize human casualties. I cannot recall one year that the organization killed more than 30 people. Compare that to the number of people killed by South African police in less than a year. So far, over 600 have died at the hands of the police. Now, who is the terrorist, Mr. Goodpasture?
To compare us with other Africans in other countries, under completely different circumstances, is to suggest that all black people are alike. I suggest Mr. Goodpasture should understand more about the situation before writing about it. There are a number of South Africans on campus who will be willing to fill him in on their situation in South Africa.
One more thing Mr. Goodpasture has already judged us — black rule is going to be more repressive. How fair of you, Mr. Goodpasture.
Zebulon Paul Mamabolo.
Johannesburg, South Africa senior
Peru finds new solution to debt woes
Since Alan Garcia was sworn as the new president of Peru, he has instituted several radical changes. But the change with the greatest repercussions concerns the foreign debt.
With this stunning announcement, Peru became the first Latin American country to say that no international financial organization, such as the IMF, will set its economic policies.
Garcia announced in July that Peru would limit the annual payments of its foreign debt to 10 percent of the country's export earnings. The International Monetary Fund, Peru's largest foreign creditor, has demanded payment of 60 percent of Peru's annual earnings.
These policies help fuel inflation by encouraging repeated devaluation of currencies, critics charge. Increases
Critics say the IMF, considered the economic doctor to sick nations, has overemphasized the need to achieve a balance of trade and to reduce budget deficits.
in the price of basic commodities, such as food, place the greatest burden of compliance with IMF policies on the poor.
Now Peru wants to force the IMF to change its prescription.
Minister of Economy Luis Alva said Peru would give priority on its debt payments to multilateral creditors.
the payments, which will be limited to the equivalent of 10 percent of the total earnings on exports, would be made to the international organizations that have lower interest rates. If the payments were made to a commercial bank, Alva said, "Peru would receive nothing in return."
Mexico, buffeted by lower oil sales,
a slumping peso and budgets cuts, is
in deep economic trouble. Brazil's
The world's bankers are worried that other Latin American countries might follow Garcia's path. As a result they have started to renegotiate some of their loans to the region.
Carlos Chuquin
Staff Columnist
skyrocketing inflation, trade deficit and widespread poverty is also at the mercy of IMP credit policies.
Brazil is now negotiating with the IMF over the size of its government deficit. If no agreement is reached, Brazil may be tempted to follow Garcia's policy.
Castro recently suggested that Latin American and Caribbean nations should cancel their foreign debt, which exceeds $360 billion.
Garcia has risen to international prominence in his first month as president. With his announcement of the 10 percent deal, Garcia undercut Cuban President Fidel Castro's position among Latin American leaders.
Garcia criticized Castro's stand. Garcia's proposal that Peru instead should set the terms of repaying its international debt won him increased respect in Latin America. 13
It is difficult to predict what the effects of Peru's new policy might be.
The United States has indicated it would simply wait for the results, Treasury Secretary James Baker III, who attended Garcia's inauguration, said political solutions to the debt problem were "counter-productive" Garcia's program would make it difficult for Peru or any Latin American country following suit to obtain further credit loans, he said.
It is obvious that Garcia is using his program as a weapon to intimidate Peru's foreign creditors. But he has shown that he is willing to negotiate with the banks to reach an agreement that repays the country's debt without forcing Peru into economic chaos.
Players singled out for drug headlines
"Next witness."
"What is your name?"
"Lefty McSpeed
"Mr. McSpeed, what is your occupation?"
"And have you ever used cocaine?"
"I am a major league baseball player."
Have you "Please answer the question."
"Have you?"
"I'll answer yours if you answer mine. 'C'mon, have you ever used it? Or smoked grass?'
"Sure it is. Admit it, a lot more lawyers than professional ballplayers snort coke and smoke grass. That's because there's tens of thousands of you, but only a few hundred of us. The law of averages, right? So, what's the big deal if I snorted a little a couple of years ago?"
"That is not relevant."
"Sure. Hey, have you ever thought about looking into drug use by doctors? Holy smoke, I saw a TV documentary once that really popped my eyes. There are doctors who are half-zapped most of the time. Wow, can you imagine having some guy who's all strung out checking out your prostate?"
"Ah, so you admit to having used cocaine?"
Mike Royko Chicago Tribune
"We are not here to discuss the medical profession."
"Well, you ought to be. If I get high, so what? Worst that can happen is a ball lands on my head. But you wouldn't get the kind of headlines from a doctor that you give with me, right? I mean, I hit .298 and had 25 home runs last season, and you just don't find doctors or lawyers with those kinds of stats."
"That has nothing to do with it. Now did you ever observe any of your fellow ballplayers using cocaine?"
"Sure. And have you ever observed any of your fellow lawyers doing it? You ever go to a party and get offered a snort? or a hit off a joint?"
"I told you, that is not real.",
"It ought to be. I mean there are tons of that stuff coming into this country every year and if ballplayers are the only ones sniffing it, we'd have to have noses like elephants."
"I ask you to give us the names of the balloons you saw using it."
"Sure. And how about if you give me the names of some of your
"If you keep this up, Letty, you could be held in contempt."
friends. What about your broker? I hear that some of those guys, especially the commodities guys who hit the big bucks, do more sniffing and snorting than a hound dog."
"Your honor, will you order the witness to answer my questions."
"Well I'll be honest: I do feel a certain contempt. This country has been openly doing drugs for the past 20 years. And this is the first time one occupation has been singled out. I think maybe somebody is getting high on headlines."
"That profession isn't ours. "Of course it isn't." Nobody's profession is on trial except mine. What about those guys who drive the big trucks on the interests? I hear some of them use all kinds of goodness pills to keep themselves going. If I get a little scrambled, maybe I throw to the wrong base. If one of them gets unhunged, he'll flatten three cars before he even gets his foot on the brake. So why aren't you talking to them? Afraid of the Teams?"
down here and you're sitting up
there? All I did was put a little
powder up my nose. I didn't put a
bag of money under my robes."
"Oh boy, now I'm getting it from a judge. Not one ballplayer has been accused of fixing a game since 1919. But I'm always reading about judges fixing cases. So how come I'm sitting
"Letty, are you ashamed of what you did? Do you regret your adventures with an illegal substance? Do you publicly renounce your evil ways?"
"It if makes you happy, sure, I'll go along with that. But do you regret the malice that is in your heart? The hunger for headlines, the envy of my salary, the desire to humiliate me and others in order to further your public career."
"I caution you . . ."
"And what about that fellow sitting there taking notes — the well-known writer who has been heaping contempt on us in his articles? Does he regret the three times he got nailed for drunken driving and called his pal, the police chief, to get him off the hook? Or when he hired a crooked alderman to be his lawyer? Hah! Get him up on the witness stand and grill him about hypocrisy."
"Lefty, you are a disgrace to great American game."
"How can you say that? I thought that what we're doing here was playing a great American game."