4A = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
TUESDAY,SEPT.11,2001
TALK TO US
Kursten Phelps
editor
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Leita Schultes
Christina Neff
managing editors
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Erin Adamson
Brendan Woodbury
opinion editors
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opinion@kansan.com
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general manager and
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EDITORIAL
Task force must monitor papers' circulation
Student Senate board needed to be formed before signing deal
The Student Senate has provided students a great learning tool with the new newspaper readership program. However, Senate oversight of the program is too long in coming. The newly formed task force on the program needs to be assembled immediately and begin keeping track of the circulation of the newspapers on campus.
Senate increased student fees $6.50 per semester to pay for the program, which is a deal for students who would otherwise pay for subscriptions to The New York Times, the Lawrence Journal-World, The Kansas City Star and USA Today, or not read them at all. For the program to be well-run, the task force needs to watch over the distribution of the papers to make sure USA Today, which distributes the papers, fulfills its contractual agreement.
The newspaper readership program was the initiative of Ben Walker, last year's student body president. Together with faculty, Senate negotiated a contract with the newspaper company after an informal survey was conducted that indicated students would be interested in receiving local and national papers on campus.
Senate approved the program in the spring. And although Senate knew last spring that the program would go forward and signed the contract with USA Today during the summer, the task force was formed just last week. Senate should not have signed a contract without a task force established to make sure that student fees are being wisely spent.
Senate needs to take students' money seriously — this means keeping track of financial contracts. The referendum vote for the readership program will take place this spring. If students are to make an educated vote on the program, statistics on the circulation of the papers will need to be released to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.
Now, the task force's homework is to immediately begin tracking newspaper circulation. Senate's contract with USA Today states that the newspaper company will deliver more newspapers at no extra cost if the demand on campus increases. But Senate must itself know the circulation to be sure that the company is providing the extra papers it promises.
LETTERS AND GUEST COLUMNS:
Molly Mueller for the editorial board.
Letters: Should be double-spaced, typed and fewer than 200 words. Letters must include the author's name, address and telephone number plus class and home-town if a University student. Faculty or staff must identify their positions. Guest Columns: Should be double-spaced, typed with fewer than 700 words. The writer must be willing to be photographed for the column to run.
PERSPECTIVE
Inhumanity and degradation are served up in a hamburger
Outdoor barbeques, fast food chains and steakhouses all dish up "good old American" food. And most Americans are raised to believe that meat is an essential part of life their diets. Yet, I challenge you to question what you cherish about meat and learn why this food group stirs passions worldwide.
The more you learn about the meat industry, the more disgusting it becomes. Goodbye to the days of the family farm. A single fastfood hamburger today contains meat from dozens, or even hundreds, of cattle.
The political, moral, health, and environmental implications of eating meat should make even the most devout carnivore think twice before clamping down on a burger.
Many people become vegetarians because they think the treatment of animals in the meat industry is unethical. More than 9 billion animals are slaughtered every year, according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Most of the chicken or cold cuts that shoppers pick up at the store come from animals who have been raised and killed in inhumane ways.
According to PETA, many animals raised for slaughter live in overcrowded stalls or cages where they often can't even take a single step. They are injected with growth hormones that cause them painful and shortened life.
Fish are dragged from the ocean and slowly suffocate or are crushed before their throats and bellies are cut open. These animals, who some say have feelings much like our own, are deprived of exercise and sunlight, only to be slaughtered while still conscious.
Commentary
Monica
White
Columnist
opinionekansan.com
The meat industry is unhealthy for people. Animal foods contribute to cancer, heart disease, obesity and many other top killers, while a vegetarian diet can make us healthier.
"Studies have shown that vegetarians have stronger immune systems than meat-eaters," says PETA.
Diets rich in grains, beans and lentils and a variety of fruits and vegetables provide all the vitamins and minerals that a vegetarian needs. Further, the advertising industry that promotes meat hurts consumers by promoting a diet of plentiful, cheap, and convenient fast food that is also unhealthy.
Animal consumption is also harming the environment. Widespread deforestation and water pollution are left in the wake of the meat industry Animals consume far more resources and need more space than plant crops.
According to PETA, a vegetarian diet requires 300 gallons of water per day, while a meat-eating diet requires more than 4,000 gallons of water per day. The world's cattle alone consume a
quantity of food equal to the caloric needs of 8.7 billion people — more than the entire human population on Earth.
I don't eat meat because of the politics of the meat industry. American meat producers often raise animals in other countries. They chop down native forests, drive the people away from the land, pollute the water, harm the environment and then ship the meat back to the United States without concern for the wasteland left behind. This happens because developing countries need the money quickly, and Americans always have a demand for meat.
this cycle of injustice is further covered up by the media, which convinces people that more is better. According to Fast Food Nation, meatpacking plants have almost a complete lack of federal oversight and regulation. It's no surprise that conditions for workers in the plants are often atrocious. And it really isn't fair that taxpayers are forced to subsidize this business while suffering its consequences.
Today, 20 million Americans have switched to a vegetarian diet. Until the meat industry can clean up its act, giving up hotdogs will send a clear message — people want to know the truth about what they put in their bodies. After all, consumers ultimately make the choice.
vonne is a junior in magazine journalism and Spanish from Tulsa, Okla.
Opinion page policy
Dear editors.
Regarding "Advice for those who know it all" (Sept. 27). I feel I must respond. As the writer with the most response letters, columns and Free for All comments published last semester, I can say I'm enthusiastic about the new direction we're going. KU in 30 years, sorority recruitment, University building policy, University alcohol policy and University Operations and Maintenance budgeting are going to be fertile ground rife with controversy.
However, I do have some reservations. You say that the New York Times will deal with the "national issues," but I have the feeling that "national issues," exist right here in the microcosm of our fair University.
After all, we have groups of students affiliated with School of Americas Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union in addition to the mainstream political parties.
We also have smaller groups like Society of Open-Minded Atheists and Agnostics that engender healthy and constructive debate about issues much larger than our nation.
Further, you are no doubt aware that social critiques from the University have been a source of some of the most profound changes in our society.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
I will continue writing the columns that I have written in the past. I feel the issues I address provoke a reaction that spurs the development of KU students.
America has been shaped by students who debate the "national issues.ae
Robert Chamberlain Topeka senior
Several readers and writers disagreed with the policy change citing reasons including those listed in the above letter by Robert Chamberlain, a Kansan columnist.
OPINION EDITOR'S NOTE
In the first columns of the year, the Kansan announced a new opinion page policy of running only pieces with a local focus.
Topeka senior
Verity:
That emphasis remains, and columns that deal with national and international issues in a way that strongly ties them to the lives of Kansan readers will still be given preference.
The policy was intended to make sure that columns were relevant to their readers, the students and faculty of the University.
However, beginning this week, the Kansan will run pieces dealing without a strong local connection on Friday opinion pages.
Brendan Woodbury is associate opinion editor.
Coach's accountability
While it's too early to know the outcome of allegations being made about Mario Kinsey and Reggie Duncan (remember, they're innocent until proven guilty), one thing is clear: if these two are found (whether by a conviction or a plea bargain) to have committed the alleged acts, the university should fire Coach Allen.
Dear editors,
This is a tough thing to propose because from everything I've seen over the past four years Coach Allen is a decent, hardworking, honorable man.
However, if his players in fact acted in the way that has been alleged, it is yet another indication that he has failed to instill a level of discipline and character necessary to succeed on the field, let alone off of it. Even setting aside the Dion Rayford incident, which was as comical as it was disturbing, the alleged theft comes virtually on the heels of the sexual assault incident involving KU football players. This is simply unacceptable.
I hope the allegations are wrong, that circumstantial evidence has been misleading. But if they are accurate, it is time for Coach Allen to go. Immediately. Not after the season, immediately.
Bill Menezes 1982 graduate Denver
Free for All callers will 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. The Kansan reserves the right to edit submissions, and not all of them will be published. Slanderous statements will not be printed.
For more comments, go to www.kansan.com.
Well, me and three of my boys are headed on a road trip —oh wait, there's a strip club —never mind.
five years ago, KU was the No. 2 party school in the country. Now it's Friday night and I'm sitting calling the Free For All. What's up with that?
My cat's breath smells like cat food, too, but she also farts and it smells like eggs.
I just wanted to let everyone know I'm sitting in giant bowl of cottage cheese and watching The Little Marmaid, and tomorrow on campus, when you see me in my khaki shorts and polo shirt, you're gonna think, "Wow, what a normal guy."
I just called and had to hang up because my roommate walked in the room. But I just wanted to say that my roommate plays online computer games for nine to 10 hours a day and I think potpuck is the coolest.
How many days 'til basketball season starts?
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Hey, I just realized that there's a channel on my TV and I don't understand a word it says. Do you think it might be Spanish?
To the kid that dressed up like the Great Pumpkin and went on to my math class, props to you, dude. That was the funniest thing I've seen in a long time.
My name is Ann and I drive a minivan and people make fun of me. What's up with that?
Who cares about the greeks or non-greeks,
what about the Asians? What's up with
that?
Freshman girls: Get them before they get fat.
I'm from Athens and I'm not very good looking and I don't drive a nice car and my GPA is really bad. What's up with that?
B
My free T-shirt says "KU Second." What's up with that?
We've been calling the Free For All from my cell phone for so long that its battery is almost dead, what's up with that?
I'm just wondering if it would kill the athletes, specifically the football players, in my American Studies class to actually pay attention and come in on time because you obviously haven't proven yourself off the football field or on the football field, so why don't you try proving yourself in the classroom and f-ing pay attention?
if that last message makes it into the Free
For All next week, I only have one thing to
say. "What's up with that?"
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I really stumped KU Info. They don't know where any of the checkpoints are.
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Why do girls still wear capri pants? I mean guys don't even like them. What's up with that, Nick Collision?
By handing out scholarships randomly at a football game, rather than based on need or merit, KU First makes a mockery of our education at the University of Kansas.
I think maybe Terry Allen needs to concentrate on getting a better team instead of working on getting a better crowd.
Since when is it illegal to walk around Lawrence with a beer?
Somebody tell my why Mario Kinsey isn't the starting quarterback.
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Um, God bless America.
Why does the chancellor get a raise when the rest of the University is going through budget cuts?
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I am a flaming, feminine straight guy and I am damn proud of it.
I just wanted to know if UCLA has a junior varsity football team that our varsity KU football team can play so maybe we can score more than 10 points on them. I still don't think we could beat them though.
Gin is not bad, but man that tonic
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Ha, the campus masturbater strikes again
I was walking to class the other day and I got struck by a smooth criminal.
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You know what, I don't think anyone envies the great community. Fraternities, let me tell you something, living with 60 guys, yeah that's real fun. Bunch of tools.
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Man, life is great. I'm glad pro football is back. As one pathetic league ends — a la WNBA — a real sports league begins.
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My name is Diego Montoya, you killed my brother, prepare to die.
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