4A - THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
WEDNESDAY,OCTOBER 16,2002
FACE-OFF
Should scholarships be only merit based?
Face-Off is a weekly project of the Kansan editorial board.
the Kansan editorial board. Each Wednesday two editorial board members will argue opposing sides of a hot-button issue that affects students at the University of Kansas. We hope that this section will help students to understand both sides of an argument and make
better decisions about thier own beliefs.
If you have a suggestion for a topic that could be used in Face-Off, or if you would like to join the editorial board, please call Maggie Koerth or Amy Potter at 864-4924. You can also email suggestions to opinion@kansan.com.
Awards should only go to the truly deserving
According to Webster's Dictionary, a scholarship is "a grant in aid to a student."
Tim Miller, professor of religious studies, said the term scholarship was used inappropriately when referring to the $1.000 awards KU First gave students at the first Kansas home football game on Sept. 14th.
Millersaid, in a Oct. 4 Lawrence Journal-World article, that he "was really appalled that KU offered these bribes called scholarships."
While Miller initially raised the issue of what constitutes something being called a scholarship, it's not the name that is the true issue.
It is the fact that $25,000 was given away by luck of the draw when there are so many KU students who deserve a scholarship because of their grades or financial situation.
Dale Seuferling, president of Kansas University Endowment Association, said the money for the scholarships was contributed by a single donor with the request that the scholarships be awarded randomly to students who wore the T-shirts at the first football game.
While it is understandable that the donor would want to promote student attendance at games, the person should have considered giving students who were unable to attend the game the same opportunity to receive money for school.
The truth is that everyone would love
to win $1,000. But many students actually would benefit from earning $1,000 based on their academic merits.
What about the students who were at the library on a Saturday evening? Should they be excluded from the winning because they were in the library?
It is understandable that KU First would use the football game as a public relations event to raise awareness about its campaign. This is an excellent public relations tactic.
Instead, why not offer 15 scholarships for $1000 to students who attend the football game, and award the rest based on an essay contest?
The problem is that students who could not attend the game, possibly because of work or study, were not eligible.
Students who spend their time studying instead of going to a football game can write a short essay on how gifts from the Endowment Association help them receive a quality education from the University.
The winning essays could then be used as promotional pieces for the association to continue to help publicize KU First.
The method of the giveaway should be revised to provide the opportunity for more students to receive scholarships based on some sort of academic credit.
Mandy German dissenting.
Lottery scholarships have a purpose
The Kansas University Endowment Association — best known by its catchy 'KU First' tag — reports on its Web site that "about two-thirds of KU's buildings and most of its land has been obtained with the help of donors."
Now, the ability of KU First to attract donations has come under attack because of a recent promotional campaign.
On Sept.14,25 $1,000 scholarships were given away to randomly chosen students who attended a football game as a KU First promotion increasing its awareness.
The game was free to students wearing KU First T-shirts. The funding for the scholarships was provided by KU First donors.
Tim Miller, professor of religious studies, was "appalled KU offered these bribes called scholarships."
He sought to pass a resolution that would deny the legitimacy of such
scholarships during a University Council meeting earlier this month.
The consequences of such sentiments are disturbing. If donors are unable to dictate the terms of their donations, then state budget cuts will become the least of the University's worries.
Miller's argument is scholarships that are not based on "academic achievement or promise, need, or conduct directly related to the academic mission of the university," are "bribes." This redefines the term scholarship.
it KU First scholarships are bribes, then so are those that are given by the KU Athletics Department.
It is also notable that, according to figures for 2000, the $25,000 of scholarships accounted for less than 0.2 percent of KU First's total scholarship contributions to the University.
Truth be known, the rumblings about the KU First scholarships have
more basis in emotion than they do in logic. The scholarships present a clear target and a conveniently remembered number.
Attacking KU First is easier than attacking the Legislature, and less painful than coming to terms with budget cuts. It is simple to lambaste a targeted and effective promotional campaign, but to do so is to miss the larger issue at hand.
KU First is an nonprofit, nongovernmental program that has managed to make substantial contributions to KU.
Throughout its history, private donors have played a major role in the expansion of prestige and increasing success of KU.
It is hardly in the best interests of the University to bite the hand that feeds it.
Greg Holmquist for the editorial board.
PERSPECTIVES
'Kansan' considering changes to puzzling crossword
The University Daily Kansan is known throughout campus for its cutting-edge sex columns and humorous Free for All. Another important function of the Kansan is its ability to keep us awake through class by means of the infamous crossword puzzle.
KU students pay a lot of attention to the crossword, a fact that becomes evident in my visits to the meetings of student groups.
In fact, the no. 1 complaint I get about the Kansan is that the crossword puzzle is too difficult.
Jay Krall, Kansan editor, understands the puzzle's importance to students.
"The crossword puzzle is one of the
READERS' REPRESENTATIVE
"The number one complaint I get about the Kansan is that the crossword puzzle is too difficult."
most widely read, used and popular tea
tures of the Kansan every day. he said.
While many enjoy the challenges of strained trivia and elaborate vocabulary, there are ways to accommodate those who'd like an easier puzzle.
Currently, the Kansan receives the daily crossword from KRT Campus. This service provides newspapers with nationally syndicated stories, editorials and comics.
The Kansan pays to have access to
Laurel Burchfield
lburchfield@kansan.com
the KRT Web site. This allows the paper to choose among a variety of media items. The Kansan gets its crossword, comics and a limited number of stories and photos from KRT.
The Kansan has been running a daily crossword since Fall 2000.
The staff has not seriously looked into using a different source for the puzzle before now.
Krall said that one option might be to hire a student who would create a daily crossword.
He said that with current computer programs, doing so would not be out of the reach.
The staff is also considering publishing two daily crosswords, one more difficult than the other.
The current puzzle would not be changed so readers could still enjoy the same style of crossword.
An easier puzzle would also be added for those who are frustrated with current puzzle.
Another idea also being considered is running the current puzzle along with a different type of puzzle.
This could include printing word
searches or word jumbles.
No decisions have been made about the crossword, and Krall stresses that student feedback is vital.
If you would like to see changes made to the Kansan crossword you can drop me an email at lburchfield@kansan.com. I will forward all concerns to Krall.
Changes take time and it may be awhile before you see any changes made to the crossword.
However, students should know that the Kansan does care about what they think and is willing to make changes that will serve student needs.
Burchfield is a Basehor sophomore in journalism, education and english.
TALK TO US
Jay Krall editor
864-4854 or
krali@kanan.sun
Brooke Hesler and Kyle Ramsey managing editors 864-4854 or bhesler@kansan.com
kramsey@kansan.com
Laurel Burchfield
readers'
representative
884-4810 or
lburchfield@kansan.com
Maggie Koerth and Amy Potter opinion editors 864-4924 or opinion@kansan.com
Amber Age
business manager
864-4358
or advertising@kansan.com
Eric Kelting
retail sales manager
864-4358 or
advertising@kansan.com
Malcolm Gibson
general manager and
news adviser
864-7867 or
mgibson@kansan.com
Matt Fisher sales and marketing adviser 864-7668 or mfisher@kansan.com
Free for All
Call 864-0500
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
For more comments, go to www.kansan.com.
and then the world.
I'm not antisocial. I just dislike most people Well, that being the people that I see.
and then the world.
Sheridan's is gonna take over the custard industry, and then the ice cream industry,
--in regards to Sean Hatfield's comment in Tuesday's paper that he thought most students and Kansans also supported the possible invasion of Iraq, well, I don't consider myself most students, my parents don't consider themselves most Kansans;
I was just wondering if I could get ahold of the guy that had a pink Mustang from Phi Kappa Psi. It's really pretty, and I was going to get one for myself.
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This is the girl who got the $92 bike ticket, and I just wanted everybody to know that I'm going to jail. So you might wanna pool your money together to pay for my bail, because I have to go to court tomorrow at 8:15. But I have a 9 o'clock class, and I have to go to my class, so I'm definitely thinking they're going to put a warrant out for my arrest and I'm going to be arrested and behind bars. So save me.
in regards to Sean Hatfield's comment in Tuesday's paper that he thought most students and Kansans also supported the possible invasion of Iraq, well, I don't consider myself most students, my parents don't consider themselves most Kansans;
--in regards to Sean Hatfield's comment in Tuesday's paper that he thought most students and Kansans also supported the possible invasion of Iraq, well, I don't consider myself most students, my parents don't consider themselves most Kansans;
and we do not support this war. I've not been to a protest, but just because I haven't doesn't mean I support any invasion of Iraq. Myself and many others are 100 percent against Bush and his policies, and we are most definitely against this war.
Is anybody else extremely disappointed with the way Red Hot Chili Peppers have turned out? Just wondering.
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The belief that Bush is the terrorist or that we're the offenders, is, I mean, those kind of thoughts weaken us and make our country vulnerable to attacks like 9/11. To let it just go unsolved is wrong. And just watch your mouth with what you say because it's ignorant and stupid.
All I wanna say is God bless Steve Ducey, and it's one of the only articles in the paper I've read in a while. God bless Steve Ducey.
Would someone tell Mrs. E's that there's definitely not onions and green peppers on
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Hawaiian pizza because it tastes really nasty.
My fish is a wuss. I mean, his name is Dexter.
This is to the girl who freaked out in the middle of the street because a bee flew by her. In all your jumping and dancing around and screaming, did you happen to notice that bus full of people waiting for you to get out of the road?
脑
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To Justin. Happy one-year anniversary, I love you.
I will give Jonathan Ng $100 to not wear a blue button-up shirt rolled up at the sleeves. $100 for one day.
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To the guy who complained about a girl's boyfriend calling while they were making out. He wasn't my boyfriend, so call me back.
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