THURSDAY,DEC.13,2001
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 5A
OPINION
PERSPECTIVE
Black fraternities contribute to diversity
I was set on ending this year without experiencing any real drama from the Kansan; however, because of an article about diversity in greek life that appeared Monday ("A Sense of Brotherhood"), it would appear that I have been forced out of retirement. Because the paper saw fit to address the diversity issue in the University of Kansas' greek system, pay attention, because school is now in session.
Commentary
Conway Ekpo
Guest Columnist
opinionkansan.com
Often when people talk about greek diversity, or the lack thereof, they are quick to place all of the blame on the Interfraternity Council and the National Panhellenic Council, as if to say that these two organizations have the ability or the responsibility to force
minorities to join the greek system.
The last time I checked, diversity was a two-way street. Diversity places responsibility on both sides of the fence. I commend the Interfraternity Council and National Panhellenic Council for overcoming years of racism and prejudice that have ostracized minorities, and I would further challenge these
organizations to continue to open doors for any and all minorities who may be interested in joining.
I need to take this opportunity to educate any misinformed individuals who seriously believe that historically Black fraternities or sororites of the National Pan-Hellenic Council are an "alternative" to the "real" greek system at the University or that these groups have a "lack of focus on academics." The National Pan-Hellenic Council has been a part of the University since 1915, and anyone truly doing his or her research will discover that GPA requirements have always been in place for all the traditionally Black and Latino organizations. Student must have a certain GPA to be eligible for membership in the National Pall Hellenic Council.
In understanding true diversity, it is important to recognize the that people are different and that this is not a bad thing. Quite the contrary, it is a good thing. It is still acceptable, even in the year 2001, for people to want to bond with others like themselves.
I am a member of the historically Black fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi and I had the great honor of speaking with one of my own fraternity brothers, the late Wilt Chamberlain, before he passed. Brother Chamberlain expressed to me that the reason he wanted to become a member of my fraternity back in 1958 was not because he was barred
from the traditionally white greek organizations, but because he wanted to bond with others like himself who shared similar experiences and similar backgrounds.
So there's no need to be offended or concerned or write an article when minorities choose to bond with other minorities and not join the mainstream greek system. This is conducive to diversity and provides an opportunity to learn about others who are different than ourselves, and it should be celebrated and not condemned.
Ekpo is a Lawrence graduate student in architectural engineering.
PERSPECTIVE
Consult students about tuition
A select group of University officials has put together three proposals for a tuition increase and then presented them to students and faculty two weeks ago. I know many students have a problem with this.
I want to challenge the members of the University community to take action. The Regents requested the involvement of students, faculty and staff in order to develop a clear and concise university plan.
Student Senate is working on a number of different projects including critically reviewing the three current proposals, informing students about their options and developing a separate proposal.
If you are interested in helping us, contact any Student Senator or me.
Commentary
On an individual level each student can take action. Attend the presentations the Provost is giving and ask him questions that you think are important. Senate is running a survey in this week's paper to get your vision for KU.
Justin Mills
Guest Columnist
opinionkansean.com
Please fill this out and return it to one of the various locations listed on campus. Talk about this issue with other students and other affected parties. Most of us will be traveling home for the holidays. Talk to your parents about this and let them know about the proposed tuition hike.
Finally, as students, we should demand that we have say in where our money goes. When a tuition increase is proposed, students should be consulted.
The way I look at it, the least they can do is involve us in a discussion about a tuition increase that will certainly
affect nearly every student now and in the future. That's why I do not support any increase that does not include strong student involvement in the allocation of tuition dollars.
If we look at other regent institutions' handling of the situation, we find that their students have had much more participation in tuition discussions. Emporia State set up a committee and has students on it. Fort Hays State students have been reviewing tuition plans for months and had it put to their student government for a vote. K-State has had at least a month and a half to review proposals.
We have been left out of the initial discussions, but it is not too late to assert our influence on these decisions. It is up to us to present our vision of the University future, a vision that is inclusive of all members of this community.
Mills is a Lansing graduate student in history. He is student body president.
WES BENSON/KANSAN
PERSPECTIVE
Many legislators responsible for lack of funding
There's more to the story
In a column entitled "Why we need a tuition increase and who could have prevented it," which ran Monday, I made the argument that the University of Kansas needed to raise tuition because the state legislature has not given sufficient funding to the University. I laid blame for the lack of funding at the feet of current Senate President and former Senate Budget Committee Chairman David Kerr.
Senator Kerr begs to differ.
On one point, he is unquestionably correct. I wrote in Monday's column that "From 1996 to 2000 as the economy grew and tax revenues swelled, Kerr successfully pushed $800 million into tax cuts." That was wrong. The legislature did pass $800 million in tax cuts during that time period, but to say that Kerr pushed those tax cuts through is incorrect.
Commentary
Brendan Woodbury Associate Opinion Editor opinionakansan.com
During that time, Kerr served as Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman. The Ways and Means Committee is responsible for spending bills. Tax bills go through the taxation committee.
Notably, however, in 1997, Kerr cast one of three votes against HB 2031, a bill which substantially cut property taxes. In explaining his vote, he said "I vote 'No' on HB 2031 with some reluctance because I share with my colleagues the
desire to reduce taxes, especially the propertytax.
Unfortunately, I believe time will prove that the reductions contained in this bill are not well reasoned nor logical. We could have reduced taxes this year. We could have reduced taxes next year. But in this bill, we have taken a step designed to create a funding crisis. I do not agree with that policy."
As it turned out, the tax revenues fell short of expectations and the state was forced to cut spending. Then this year, when Governor Graves attempted to raise education spending, he was forced to ask for a tax increase. The tax hike and accompanying spending increase were defeated in the legislature.
The Kansan ran a correction on the tax cut process on Tuesday after I talked with Senator Kerr. But he believes, and I
agree, that the issue deserves more space. There is more to the story.
The tuition increase is a complex issue, and the three scenarios are complicated. The issues with funding by the legislature stretch back several years. The uses of the newly raised funds are many and varied. There is much more to the story. There is always another angle that can be explored, another document that can be researched.
The difficulty in making a decision and taking a position is in the simplification. It is in deciding which information to focus on and which to cast aside. Obviously, in a legislative body made up of two houses and hundreds of members, no one man is solely responsible for anything. Others played prominent roles in the shaping of the legislative agenda over the last five years.
But someone must be accountable for the funding situation that Kansas higher education finds itself in, and if it's not the leaders of the legislature, then who?
A tuition increase is a burden onto all students who don't have school paid for with a full scholarship. Anger is a natural reaction. But we can't stop there. If we are to gain from this experience and do better in the future, we must work to understand how we got here. And to do that, we need to find out the full story. I do too.
Woodbury is a Prairie Village senior in political science and organismal biology. He is associate opinion editor.
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