4A - THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
WEDNESDAY,OCT.3,2001
TALK TO US
Kursten Phelps editor
864-4854 or editor@kansan.com
Leita Schultes
Christina Neff managing editors
864-4854 or editor@kansan.com
Erin Adamson Brendan Woodbury opinion editors
864-4810 or opinion@kansan.com
Jenny Moore business manager
864-4014 or adddirector@kansan.com
Kate Mariani retail sales manager
864-4462 or retailsales@kansan.com
Tom Eblen general manager and news adviser
864-7667 or teblem@kansan.com
Matt Fisher sales and marketing adviser
864-7666 or nfisher@kansan.com
MATT GERTKEN/KANSAN
EDITORIAL
Parking changes would improve campus safety
Opening restricted lots to students by 7:30 p.m. would eliminate walking long distances in dark
Now that classes are in full swing and everyone is beginning to get comfortable with their schedules, one thing students do not want to take for granted is their personal security.
The days are getting shorter and it's getting dark earlier, and students who attend night classes on campus need to be especially aware of their surroundings when walking alone in the dark.
One thing that would improve the security of students who have to be on campus in the evening is if some of the parking lots on or near campus were open to students earlier.
Although it is still light outside when going to class, coming out of class is a different story.
Most of the parking lots on or near campus are not open to public parking until 7:30 p.m. The only lots that open before then are the yellow lots that are furthest away from campus. Students who have night classes, which typically begin at 7 p.m., are forced to park in the yellow lots to avoid receiving tickets.
Students must walk to either the Kansas Union parking lot or down to the parking lot by Robinson from their classes.
There are several lots that could be opened earlier. Parking lots like those behind Strong Hall, the military science building and Stauffer-Flint Hall are restricted until 7:30 p.m.
A few of them could be opened as security lots where students could park before their night classes.
These lots are designated for teachers and staff during the days and are typically empty by 6 p.m. after the offices close.
These lots sit there with only a few cars in them until 7:30 when students can finally use them. It wouldn't hurt to open a couple of them up to the students for our safety.
The University has installed emergency phones and more lighting to make campus safer for students at night.
But even with such measures, it is still dangerous for a lone student to be walking very far to his or her car late at night.
It would be an easy solution and a way to really help campus become a safer place.
Safety of the students should be a top priority here at the University, and it should be taken very seriously.
-Brett Norman for the editorial board
Designating a few safety lots for students would be an easy way to make campus safer.
The Parking Department should post signs in a the parking lots that label them as parking for students at night. This is a step that the parking department can make in the right direction to help the KU community become a safer place.
PERSPECTIVE
Readers can help 'Kansan' cover more campus news
Readers who wish to report news tips to the Kansan often don't know where to begin. Simply calling the newsroom or sending a fax may not be the most effective way of getting your name in print.
The next time you have a story idea or you want some coverage for your organization in the Kansan, you may see results if you keep the following in mind:
Know your beat: Each reporter is assigned an area of coverage known as a "beat." The next time you call the Kansan with a news tip, know which reporter would usually cover your story, and ask for him or her by name.
If they are not available, usually a campus editor will be around. The campus editors help the reporters develop ideas and news angles for their stories. They are your next best source.
If all else fails, leave a message for the respective reporter. Be persistent.
Tip: Michelle Burhenn covers KU police, Jeremy Clarkson covers greeks and housing, Courtney Craigmile covers Lawrence police and the City Commission, Luke Daley covers Student Senate, J.R. Mendoza covers multicultural issues, Eve Lamborn covers academics, Matt Norton covers health and Paul Smith covers the administration. You can call the Kansas newsroom at 864-4810.
Commentary
Jonathan Ng
Readers'
Representative
reader@mknan.com
Just the facts: When talking to reporters, tell them as much as you can and get to the point. Stories should be of interest to students and have some type of connection to the University of Kansas. Also, remember you should always consider yourself "on the record," meaning anything you tell the reporter is subject being in the newspaper.
Brooke Hesler, campus editor, says it helps reporters if you provide a press release or simple memo of all the information you tell them. Hesler says e-mailing press releases is usually more efficient than faxing them.
It also helps if you can provide other sources pertinent to the story and their contact information.
Tip: In addition to calling, you should e-mail any press releases to both writer@kansan.com and editor@kansan.com. You can also directly turn in press releases to campus editors in the newsroom or leave a copy in their mailbox.
Respect deadlines: The reporters are full-time students, too. They work on deadline and need to turn stories in by 4 p.m. the day before it appears in the paper. Be sure to return phone calls from reporters as soon as possible.
Tip: If possible, give the reporter at least a week's notice before an event. Reporters decide story ideas on Fridays for the upcoming week.
"Free" Advertising: The On Campus section on page 2A is a great way to get a quick bite in about a club meeting or a special event. This section usually does not provide any details, but it does list times, places and contact information for your organization. The brief usually runs on only the day of the event.
These tips won't guarantee the Kansan will cover what you want, but at least it's a start. Reporters are always looking for new story ideas. If you want the Kansan to work for you, you have to remember to work with the Kansan.
Tip: Fill out an On Campus form in the newsroom (11 Stauffer Flint Hall) or log onto www.kansan.com and click on Services and then Calendar. You also can e-mail your announcement to readerserse@kansan.com. Turn in requests at least three days in advance.
Ng is a junior in journalism from Lea-
wood.
PERSPECTIVE
Protests need an injection of creativity
Dear Protesters
Ihope this letter finds you all in good spirits. Last weekend was great weather for banners, marches and camaraderie in the park. I can only hope this lovely season continues. Some of my friends get pretty upset about you guys, but me, I think the whole thing is great. The protests are fairly harmless as far as having a huge impact on the way America conducts itself, and it seems a wonderful way for folks to get together and practice free speech.
I think deep down my affection for protesters stems from my love of folk music. All the guitar-strumming, bearded conservatives play country-western, and the genre really isn't my cup of tea. Historically, the most fertile ground for good folk rock is collegiate liberal protesters. But so far this whole movement has been a real let down. So, in the spirit of social criticism, here is some feedback I hope will lead to improvements in future protests.
Robert Chamberlain
Columnist
opinionkanan.com
First and foremost, write some new songs. John Lennon was a creative genius, not lead singer for a third-rate cover band. So singing "Imagine" instead of writing new music would seem to undermine this whole protest thing, and make it seem like a Vietnam wannabe (which surely it isn't). If the current situation is really that upsetting, I'm sure it will enable someone in the protest community to tap their previously unrealized creativity. New
Commentary
songs for a new era, that's what I say.
Second, if you're going to advocate anarchy, it's helpful to behave like anarchists. Sacco and Vincetti didn't wear matching suits to court, so you shouldn't all wear matching clothes to rallies. The whole matching flags and large symbols that signify group identity don't really help much either. Remember, you're fighting for individual freedom — don't succumb to mindless groupthink. Next time out, I would think that at least one anarchist would wear a nice pastel button-down shirt. Fight conformity!
Third, if you really believe in individual choice, let individuals make choices. If a whole lot of individuals want to shop at the Gap, don't deny them the opportunity to express themselves by forcing their favorite store to relocate. Having more stores downtown gives folks more options. Don't make decisions for people; celebrate diversity!
we can on American policy. So if you're only reading Chomsky to inform your worldview, you're going to get some pretty odd ideas. Try offsetting his bias with bias in another direction.
Fourth, Noam Chomsky is a provocateur. He says so himself. His goal is to put as ugly and controversial a face as
For every Chomsky piece you read, peruse a report by the Heritage Foundation on the same topic. And then see if the library has any good histories available. Hopefully synthesizing all these ideas will allow you to develop a new, deeper understanding of the salient issues. Besides, I hear that minds are like parachutes; they work best when they're open.
I'm not sure if this letter will help at all. In fact, the realist in me says it won't. But I'm a dreamer, and I imagine a world in which people adhere to their bumper sticker slogans.
A world where everyone respects an individual's right to express himself or herself. A world that's not driven by grouptink, and that doesn't judge people just because their clothes say Abercrombie. A world where organizing informed opinions based on meticulous research is more important than organizing a march.
I'm not sure how to bring that world about, but I have a feeling that the answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. The answer is blowing in the wind.
Chamberlain is a senior in political science from Topeka.
864-0500
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Not all of them will be published. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed.
For more comments, go to www.kansan.com.
Why does the sports section keep publishing the photos of Hilla Rantala? What's up with that Nick Collision?
There's one way that Robert Chamberlain can make his pro-war views meaningful. Enlist.
Honestly, I really don't want to talk, I was just handed the phone.
Me fail English? That's impossible.
Why don't girls understand that guys have feelings too?
Supposedly, good things come to those who wait. Who has the patience to wait for those good things, though?
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In 1980, the United States boycotted the Olympic games of Moscow because Russia invaded Afghanistan. Now look at us, we're about to invade Afghanistan. Guess the communists have something going, not all that bad.
Congratulations to the KU softball team for a great show last weekend, and I wish you guys the best in the tournament coming up this weekend.
If John Cusack were a woman, he'd be
Jean Cusack.
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Does KU have breakdancing lessons?
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God bless blond girls. ___
Hey, I just freak-danced with my TA last week, and the world makes sense again God bless America.
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Has anybody seen Quasimodo? I have a hunch he's hack.
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The girl that was taken advantage of by the Honda dealer; she should go and see Legal Services for Students at the Burge, they could probably help her. They helped me out with a problem like that. Thanks, bye.
Sidewalk chalk is not only one of the greatest inventions in the world, but it's also the best form of advertisement.
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What am I going to do now? I'm out of toilet paper.
Not all lesbians are folk singers.
Yeah, has anyone else noticed that the big flag they painted on Tempelin has 11 stripes?
I wonder if the KU Athletic Department would give us money to sponsor a KU kickball tournament.
I don't know what it is, but Meghan Bainum turns me on. Any girl that talks about sex turns me on. Should I get her number?
What happened to all the nice people at KU Info? I just called to ask a simple question, and the guy was really mean.
I'd just like to say that Craig Martin, my Biology teacher, is the coolest guy ever. He is so funny, and I wish he was my uncle.
As a non-smoker, I want to know: Do all smokers stay up until 4 a.m. yelling and screaming, or just the ones in McColum?
Does anyone out there actually like Carrot Top? I don't. I was just wondering if anyone else did.
If it weren't for my horse, I wouldn't have spent that year in college.
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I just wanted to let everybody know that a seminar on time travel will be held two weeks ago.
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Am I the only person on campus that does
n’t recognize any of the basketball players?
I just wanted to thank the guy at KU Info that told me that Spencer Research Library closes at 5 o'clock. Well, it doesn't, it closes at 10. Thanks a lot.
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The best advice that I can give you, my children, is never ever a burning dog.
Can somebody please tell me where the overpopulation of squirrels came from around this campus?
My physics teacher is the weakest link. Good bye.
I'm double-majoring in alcoholism and male seduction with a minor in jibberish. I'm struggling with Orgasm 101 and am in desperate search for an experienced tutor.
I live in Oliver, it's 8 a.m., there's a guy with a Weed Whacker outside my window. I'm not happy.
Hello to the person who keeps throwing all the food over in Jayhawk Tower. You need to get a life. It's not funny anymore, grow up.