SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 09, 2016
4A = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2002
TALK TO US
Jay Krail
editor
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Brooke Hesler and Kyle Ramsey
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Laurel Burchfield
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Maggie Koerth and Amy Potter
opinion editors
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KANSAN EDITORIAL BOARD
Matt Fisher
sales and marketing adviser
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Union construction has turned into inconvenience
As most students who have stepped foot inside the Kansas Union this year have noticed, there is a bit of a construction problem.
For months, construction crews have worked diligently in order to renovate several areas inside KU's busiest building — including the Hawk's Nest and the Organizations and Leadership Office — yet KU students, faculty and administration have yet to enjoy the satisfaction of a fully renovated facility.
Perhaps it would be best to place the word 'problem' into perspective. The problem does not revolve around the construction itself — the loud noise, hectic work areas, debris, dust, and plaster — that all comes with the territory.
What students and workers who have lived and breathed these setbacks for months are asking is, "Why has this taken so long?"
Deadline after deadline has passed for completion of the construction in these areas, yet there is seemingly no light at the end of the tunnel for those who frequent the Union and are tired of the inconveniences.
Some say that the University has been apathetic towards the Union's completion, and that it's time to put up or shut up.
Zach Sight, Leawood Junior and worker in the O&L office placed the problem into perspective.
"It's not that big of a deal to put up with the inconveniences of construction for a few days, or even weeks, but when it begins to affect your work on a long-term basis it is time to solve the problem," he said.
Others, however, say that Uniongoers should be patient and optimistic despite the ongoing annoyances.
One such perspective comes from Aaron Quisenberry, Associate Director of the Organizations and Leadership Office.
"It has taken too long, but there have been several unforeseen problems that most students don't know about. It has definitely been frustrating for the Student Union Activities workers trying to program with ever-changing completion dates and consistent noise and debris. We do know, however, that the final outcome will be worth it," Quisenberry said.
Regardless of students' viewpoints on the issue, or even their interest in the Kansas Union as a whole, it is important to hold our university to a higher standard when it comes to maintaining our facilities.
University administration should set deadlines and make sure that construction conforms to those.
It's always exciting to see our campus improve in quality, but not when it comes with unnecessary inconveniences.
Blake Shuart for the Editorial Board.
Call 864-0500
Free for All
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Ok, listen, this is my air-conditioner. (Rattling). This house is a dump.
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I just wanted to say thank you for the custodial workers at McCollum Hall. You guys are all great and we appreciate everything that you do. And a special one for the custodian on the sixth floor; you rock my world.
trying to get away from the guy in the white shirt, I lit my fingernail on fire, and then came home to find a blond and brunette robbing my towels.
The ATO's were the greatest neighbors ever. The new guys, they're terrible.
This is the girl that was at the Hawk on Sunday night in the blue pants. And while
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rm glad to hear that the Motion Picture Association of America narrowly averted bankruptcy when it prevented a KU student from downloading a movie. Wouldn't their time be better spent by preventing the next Carrot Top movie from being released?
sings you hustle to and from every day? All of us have been in Wescoe, Strong and Frasier halls at some point. Did you know that all of those buildings were named after former chancellors?
How come all the teachers have chalk boards? Is this the 50s? For crying out loud, get these teachers some marker boards or something.
Happy 22nd birthday, Jessica. We love you. Love, your SigDelt sisters.
Props out to the guy at Dillon's who was in the Tigger costume.
sings you hustle to and from every day? All of us have been in Wescoe, Strong and Frasier halls at some point. Did you know that all of those buildings were named after former chancellors?
For all of you people who decide to play your musical instruments in front of Hashinger: Don't. I like to sleep. And I want to sleep. And I need my sleep. And if I don't sleep, I cry.
Oh, the unbridled passion of this very moment, encompassing my entire being! American America, I cry! American
sings you hustle to and from every day? All of us have been in Wescoe, Strong and Frasier halls at some point. Did you know that all of those buildings were named after former chancellors?
BEELER'S VIEW
Nate Boeier/Kansan
'KANSAN' REPORT CARD
Pass:
Looking on the bright side. On the day KU dropped two places in U.S. News and World Report's list of top colleges, the KU Web site ran the headline, "KU Remains in U.S. News Top 50."
The KU History Galleries. Kudos to whoever designs the KU Web site for adding this nifty piece of trivia. The Galleries' actual Web site turned out to be pretty interesting too.
Crowded student section. A lot of people left after the scholarships were announced. But the image of a whole section crammed with thousands of blue T-shirts sure looked good while it lasted.
Fail:
The silencing of the whistle. The now-infamous budget cuts march on. This time, the victim is a KU tradition more than 100 years old. Personally, we'd have traded that ugly entrance at 15th street for our beloved tooty-toot.
KU Marching Band. More budget cuts, this time in the music department. Students who pour hours of effort into practice can't reap the benefits, unlike Mizzou's band members. Maybe they don't suck so much after all.
Student Senate. Between bringing back bills that were already voted down and staging a walk-out to prevent a vote, we're starting to wonder where senators left their brains—and their principles.
PERSPECTIVES
It's time to recognize the work of KU's forgotten chancellor
COMMENTARY
Have you ever stopped to think about the names of the buildings you hustle to and from
Maggie Koerth mkoerth@hansan.com
It's a common theme. In fact, 13 buildings on campus were named after former chancellors. I emphasize that number because there have been 14 non-interim chancellors at KU.
So why did that one guy get left out? If you assume it's because he was a recent chancellor or because he did a bad job, you'd be wrong.
The man's name is Laurence Chalmers. He was chancellor from 1969 to 1972 and, arguably, he saved this University from becoming another Kent State.
In 1970, KU was a hotbed of political activism and anti-military sentiment. Students disrupted ROTC functions, several bombs exploded on campus and, on April 20th, arsonists set fire to the Kansas Union.
However, Chalmers called off the national
For 19 days and nights after the Union burned, Lawrence and KU languished under a curfew. The national guard and police were poised on the edge of campus, students were threatening to riot and the Board of Regents wanted Chalmers to cancel the semester.
guard and, instead of canceling school (which would have caused more unrest) he asked all the students to come to an emergency assembly in Memorial Stadium.
On May 8,1970,the 15,000 students who filled the stadium were given the choice to decide if they would leave school and whether they would take their finals.
According to Chalmers' own estimates, a fourth of the student body decided to take their finals and nearly everyone stayed until the end of an otherwise uneventful semester.
By working with students, Chalmers diffused what could have been a deadly situation. So why does this man not have a building named in his honor?
Some blame Chalmers' lack of popularity with the Regents and alumni. Chalmers' decisions went directly against their requests and the Regents nearly voted him out of office twice. But other factors could have been at work.
Jeannette Johnson, Assistant to the Provost, said she thought the budget crunch of the 1970s kept the University from building for several years after Chalmers' resignation. She said that might have been the reason there is no Chalmers Hall today.
Either way, it is obvious that this oversight needs to be addressed.
Conveniently, this University has one major building without a name. The Art and Design Building has sat with only a description since it's completion in 1977. Naming it would cost KU very little.
Toni-Marie Montgomery, the Dean of the School of Fine Arts, said that if the building were named in honor of someone, without a donation, the naming would be up to KU administration.
According to the Provost's Web site, that puts the decision in the hands of the Building Names Committee.
But students can do something about this, too. Decide for yourself whether Laurence Chalmers deserves a building. Then write to the Building Names Committee. You can reach them through the office of the Provost, Suite 250 Strong Hall.
Tell them about what you learned.
Tell them it's time for Laurence Chalmers to get the recognition he deserves.
■ Koerth is a Salina senior in anthropology and journalism. She is opinion editor.
Activists take road less traveled, fighting for rights of forgotten
the life of an activist is not easy. I can now say that with full understanding of what it
standing of what it means. Activists are not part of a club or a group that requires certain criteria to join, rather a movement of concerned citizens of the world.I have committed myself to doing all that I can for my school and my community, as well as people all over the world. It is a lot of weight to take on, but I'm not complaining. I have the support of many friends and acquaintances who work alongside me to make life better for everyone.
Last week I participated in a mourning demonstration in remembrance of all the victims of Sept. 11, as well as those of U.S.-sponsored terrorism. Several people asked
us questions, many more were somewhat confused, and still others made disapproving remarks as they passed. One person said, "You're lucky you live in the states."
That is why I want so badly for things to change. I care deeply about this country and I can't stand to know that every day in the foreign press something negative about the United States is reported. Now a new crisis looms. George W. Bush has spoken against the United Nations statement that it does not support the bombing of Iraq. This is a slap in the face to the global community, and one more mark against worldwide support for U.S. campaigns. Sadly this will not be enough motivation for the government to halt its plans for bombing
I couldn't agree more.
COMMENTARY
Sara Zafar
opinion@hansan.com
the already unstable country.
Because I have made the choice to fight against this political faux pas, I sometimes find myself in situations that are uncomfortable or difficult. Last Saturday, after a very late right, I forced myself out of bed on that rainy morning to march downtown in protest of this upcoming war. No one
Marching from campus down to the courthouse in the early fall rain wasn't easy until I looked around at the people who had also chosen to come out and make their voices heard. That gave me the motivation to keep walking. To keep holding the signs written in markers that were slowly coming apart in the falling water.
forced me to go, and I could have made a lot of excuses why I couldn't (i.e. it was raining, I had almost no sleep, I had a paper due, etc.) but I didn't want to. I had made the choice to rally for peace, and I had to do my duty that day.
Sometimes I wonder why I do this at all? Taking the less popular view is more difficult than I sometimes think I can handle, yet I do. I do it because I know I must.
If I were in a situation where no one cared what happened to me or to my way of life, and I had no control over what was happening. I would want someone to fight for me, defend my rights and support my cause.
So I will sit at a table on Wescoe Beach, hand out fliers about the various projects happening to make life easier for someone, answer any questions the best I can, and hope that I have sparked an interest for someone new. That is what an activist's life is all about. Fighting for the good of humanity, helping educate others and pushing for fairness to all people.
Zafar is a Witch.tsophomore. She is undecided.