Opinion
Page 4 University Daily Kansan, October 21, 1980
Title IX is confused
The Department of Education is drowning universities around the country in a sea of vague requirements.
Title IX inquiries are in full swing at the University of Kansas and seven other universities. Similar investigations are planned for 72 other universities.
Most of the universities involved have not purposely neglected the law. But if KU is found not to be in compliance with Title IX and fails to make required changes in 90 days, it could lose 127 million in federal aid.
Title IX is a 1972 federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. Yet this obviously necessary law is vague and has been almost impossible to interpret.
The requirements of TITLE IX, to be sure,
are not clear cut. The federal government
has not made a successful attempt to specify the requirements and to give the universities any direction for compliance.
Universities around the country seem to be confused about the law. Complaints against universities have been widespread. It is only now that the feds really have done something about it.
If the government does in fact find violations, it should suggest specific ways to curb discrimination. A simple slap on the wrist followed by a threat to take away federal funds isn't fair if no alternatives are offered.
The objective of Title IX is honorable. Yet the federal government's interpretation of the law has been much too vague. The investigators, as well as the bigwigs in Washington, need to keep that in mind.
After the sand settles in the Iran-Iraq conflict, the United States and the Soviet Union each would like to be in better positions to evacuate events in the Mideast than they are now.
Regardless of whether either of the superpowers have neo-imperialist notions about the Persian Gulf area, the two nations would feel more secure about their respective interests if some degree of control over events could be gained.
The United States should be looking for ways to further ensure the safe passage of oil from the gulf, though it has not been endangered yet. An ancillary goal should be to give Israel a greater advantage over its Midearad adversaries.
The Soviet Union, on the other hand, could be suspected of either truying to acquaint itself
TED LICKTEIG
with potential Mideast friends for the purpose of becoming possible customers of Mideast oil or of trying to extend its hegemony over more peoples.
Accomplishment of these goals is not easy with suspicious eyes looking behind every man.
For the course of events to cut in favor of the United States, several circumstances need to arise without drawing the charge of imperialism by mideast countries.
The United States and its allies are helped by a lengthening of the conflict. As the conflict continues, the Persian Gulf states will become increasingly pensive because of a fear that they will be drawn into the conflict either by being attacked or by being forced to attack because of blockage of the Strait of Hormuz. The state's penesiveness will result in requests for American military aid for defense purposes. The United States already has sent Saudi Arabia several Airborne Warning and Command Systems airplanes.
As more weapons requests and deliveries are made, the United States' influence in the
region grows. At the same time, the balance region tips to the nations with U.S. weapons.
This strategy of arms sales to the gulf states could backfire, however. The Iranians could interpret the sales as an attempt by the United States to reassert itself militarily in the region after losing the reliable shah. Iran could become panicy and attempt to block the Strait of Hormuz, even though it probably could not do it.
An attempt to block the strait would trigger into action allied ships waiting in the Indian Ocean. The potential for conflict exists with Soviet ships in the same area. But allied ships in the Indian Ocean outnumber Soviet ships in the ocean by more than two to one.
Another reason for wanting to see the conflict prolonged is for the security of Israel. Menachem Begin not only will be smiling if he wins, but he will also be smiling if Iran and Iraq still are shooting at each other.
Iran and Iraq would be on the front line if the radical Arab states ever decided to try to eliminate Israel. As long as U.S. arms are kept in the hands of moderate Arab states such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the Israeli military capability of two of its fiercest enemies
Conversely, the Soviets, realizing that the United States has an opportunity to strengthen its influence in the gulf, seeks a short war.
By backing the Iraqis with arms deliveries, the Soviets have a chance to offer their services as curators of any Iranian territory captured in the conflict
A foothold in the region would delight the Soviets. The area could be used as a training ground for terrorist groups such as the Palestine Liberation Organization. Moreover, if the Western nations denied the Soviets the technology needed to tap their own vast oil reserves, Iraq would be a ready, willing and able oil salesman.
It can be assumed that Iran would not want to test the military capability of the United States, and therefore that the hostages have been safely sheltered from Iraq's MIG's.
It is unfortunate that the length of the war can work for the United States, but any influence gained is much needed after several setbacks in foreign policy.
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Ex-president Nixon remains active
He shook her hand firmly and said he was proud to meet his first Jayhawk. It was June in Interlachen, Switzerland, and Richard M. Nixon only knew she was an American student from the University of Kansas because she told him so, having nothing coherent in her brain but name and university upon realizing who this man with the body guard was.
Neither knew they would meet again soon. But the next day in Biernz, Switzerland, a secret service agent flashed his badge to the surprised student and said, "Second time coincidence, sir." He said the girl's smile and he chuckled, adding, "Mr. Nixon and his wife would you to have tea with them."
Dick and Pat paid the bill. They chatted about home, school, travel, politics, and finally, Nixon asked the student if she had voted in him for 1972. She choked on her last gulp of cappuccino before responding, with relief, "I wasn't old enough to vote."
This was the leisure Richard Nixon, touring Europe with Pat in celebration of their 40th wedding anniversary. It had been six years since the ex-president had resigned himself to this life. Or at least what sounded to the great American public like a life of endless leisure, supported by a presidential pension and a throng of security guards.
But Richard Milhous Nixon isn't just any president with a pension. Nor was he just any president. This is a curious fellow, this self-made forged China open and nearly tumbled America.
It seems odd, therefore, that the man who said the U.S. government's greatest asset rested in the 'will', nerve and unpredictability of the world, into a life of leisure so quietly and effortlessly.
That's just it, the man can't stop. Nixon doesn't play golf down in Palm Beach or go yachting in the Gulf. He travels sometimes with his wife, but they never, or rarely, go out in the evenings, even for a late dinner. He's New Yorker now and he's keeping to himself.
He works. He writes books. He meets with people who make appointments to meet with him. He signs autographs and grants an oc-
AMY
HOLLOWELL
cassional interview with the media. He spends his days from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. in his Manhattan apartment.
But what is to be made of this man who "was born in the house that (his) father built," but who clearly built (and nearly destroyed) himself and many of those around him from scratch? Has Richard M. Nixon really put down the clay and stopped molding?
Never.
This is a man who has been given over to public affairs since he can remember, since we can remember. He chuckled his staircase to and when he got there, he brought himself down.
Although he wasn't welcome at his party's
convention in Detroit this summer, he was
open for dinner.
As president, Ronald Reagan, would have an
entorage of knowledgeable advisers and would unquestionably listen to their learned voices; Nixon says. Reagan is conservative, he says, but that's what the nation desperately wants.
Nixon himself was a conservative president
Perhaps his most profound contribution as president was his strengthening of international relations, and his skillful molding of a respected military leader today. Nixon still is outspoken on that subject.
His most recent book, "The Real War," asserts that the United States has been involved in a Third World War since the close of the second one. He views the Soviet Union as an aggressor, in ceaseless pursuit of world control, waging war on the West and winning.
Nixon has said he was not sure that there will be an America by the end of this century, unless the United States gets "tough" with the Soviets. Many Americans are a odds with these ideals because they would prefer that he not feel comfortable expressing them as if he were an elder statesman. >
He is not forgiven by many. He may be pa-
rented and punished. They'd rather keep him
quiet and of sligh.
But let's be realistic. Everyone else likes him, or at least the Europeans, who live, they say, "frightfully" close to the Soviet Union. They say, he had guts.
Guts indeed, but not a lot of ethics. Machiavellian to the core. He may have been born of sight or of sight. Did written tuff off as just a crusty, corrupted old politician living in Manhattan.
If he turned up in Switzerland to buy a kid a cup of cappuccino, he could turn up just about
Letters to the Editor
Chancellor searches should be closed
To the editor:
Having recently read several Kansas stories concerning the chancellor search committee, I note that there is some concern on campus regarding the fact that the work of the compartment should not interfere with that that the names of persons under consideration for the chancellorship are not being made public.
The Kansas Board of Regents has not formally adopted a system-wide policy covering presidents' surgeries. I am certain, however, such policies such as the one presented in 10 years have been done on a confidential basis.
For the present search for a new chancellor, the Board last June adopted a section that states, "the Board shall be responsible for the management of the
The Board specified confidentiality primarily to ensure receipt of the largest number of applications and nominations of well-qualified persons for the chancellorship. There is no doubt, whatsoever, that many superior administrators will not allow themselves to be considered without a strong assurance of confidentiality.
A second reason why the Board prefers a confidential search is a desire to shield both itself and the committee from excessive labor costs, most specific candidates by interested persons.
The Board and the committee have adequate means of obtaining comprehensive information about the candidates without subjecting them to a thorough investigation. Brent bouquets of a common political campaign
Although I am sure that this letter will not satisfy the proponents of an open selection process, I hope that it will at least clarify the position of the Board of Regents.
John Conard Regents executive officer
The Oct. 8 lecture by Khrsidh Ahmed, the Pakistani professor who spoke on "Islam and the West," deserves a response. Basically, his talk expressed the view that the West, despite its alleged attempts to 'enslave' the OPEC nations, was in a state of decline, that the OPEC countries had gained their power and imposition, and that the western nations in general, and the United States in particular, were solely to blame for the crises in the Middle East.
By expressing these rather negative views of the West, Ahmed followed a trend that has become fashionable in recent years—to rest the responsibility of the Third World's problems squarely and exclusively upon the shoulders of the industrialized nations.
To the editor:
It is quite easy and, unfortunately, quite human to lay the blame for one's troubles on someone else. Often, when groups caught up in the irrationality of emotion decry "western racism," these groups are forced to group on this campus is fond of doing), facts are overlooked and the truth is clouded.
Ahmed unfortunately fell into this trap and chose to overlook one basic fact. The lecturer's contention that OPEC has grown powerful without any help from the West is incorrect. He knew that discoveried the oil, western technology that designed and built the oilfields and western know-how that made them into the productive industries they are today. And it is western currency that feeds the economies of the OPEC countries. Western countries have very many instances has enabled oncebackward nations of the Middle East, Asia and Africa to become stable, developing countries.
This fact must be realized instead of being belittled or ignored.
It has been stated many times that in the past 2,000 years, Western Civilization has produced the greatest cultural, intellectual and scientific achievements that this planet has ever experienced. The history and culture have not been influenced to some extent by western culture. If the West is to reverse the downward slide of the past 50 years and continue its tradition of achievement, it must deal with the growing problems that face it and soon. However, if Ahmed's predictions are correct—if the West does fail it set off the world eventually will follow it into oblivion.
We in the West, however, must at the same time come to grips with the problems we face. Our all-consuming passion for material goods has destroyed our spirit and undermined our reason. We have allowed ourselves to remain at the mercy of those who, with a turn of a few valves or the droplets on a window, have turned to screeching halt. Almost to a nation, we have lost pride in ourselves, while those to the south and east of us have shown an enviable rise in spirit and determination.
David Canaday
Salina junior
Letters Policy
The University Daily Kansan welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be typewritten, double-spaced and not exceed 500 words. They should include the writer's name, address and contact information of the writer filled with the University, the letter should include the writer's class and home town or faculty or staff position.