4A = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
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MONDAY,AUGUST 19,2002
KANSAN
Jay Krall editor 864-4854 or jkrall@Kansan.com
Brooke Hesler Kyle Ramsey managing editors 864-4854 or bhuelser@Kansan.com or kramsey@Kansan.com
Laurel Burchfield readers' representative 864-4854 or lburchfield@Kansan.com
Maggie Koerth Amy Potter opinion editors 864-4810 or opinion@Kansan.com
Amber Agee business manager 864-4358 or advertising@Kansan.com
Eric Kelting retail sales manager 864-4358 or advertising@Kansan.com
Malcom Gibson general manager and news adviser 864-7667 or mgibson@Kansan.com
Matt Fisher sales and marketing adviser 864-7666 or nfisher@Kansan.com
Cigarette tax places Kansas' burdens on smoker's shoulders
New tax is unfair to smokers and fails to solve problems
Kansas is in a serious financial crisis and budgets across the state have been slashed. Even at the University of Kansas, students and faculty have seen the result of decreased money alotments. Students are now paying more for tuition, and departments are experiencing major cutbacks.
In the spring, lawmakers were frantically trying to come up with ways to put money back into the state budget.
money back into effect
One proposal that came into effect
this summer victimizes smokers in the
state of Kansas to a $.46 tax increase.
Lawmakers and health lobbyists targeted
cigarette smokers as a way to help
make up the deficit in the Kansas budget
Even with the $.70 total tax per pack, smokers will face yet another jab in their pocket books when the tax goes up to $.79 in January. The cigarette tax is expected to put $81 million back into the economy.
economy. As unhealthy as cigarettes may be, smokers should not be expected to shoulder the financial burden of the state of Kansas. It is unfair that a segment of the population must pay for the mismanagement of tax revenue.
Another issue brought up is that ciga
rette vendors could face major loss in business. Those who live near state lines will go elsewhere to find cigarettes at lower prices.
This scenario is already occurring in states like New York where the cigarette tax went from $0.80 to $1.50. In an article that appeared in The New York Times, Jim O'Grady interviewed a vendor whose cigarette sales have decreased by 75 percent.
75 percent. O'Grady also reported that many consumers were crossing state borders or ordering online when purchasing their cigarettes.
This result to a tax increase seems to defeat the whole purpose of the tax which was to bring more revenue back into the state. The prices are so high that people look for other sources or are completely quitting the habit all together.
Instead of lawmakers looking for quick solutions such as the cigarette tax, attention must also go toward solving the overall problem. How did the state of Kansas end up in this financial crisis and how can we prevent this from happening again?
While the increase has obvious health benefits, it is the responsibility of every citizen to help Kansas recover from this serious financial crisis.
Lawmakers should not have targeted smokers and should have thought of tax solutions in which everyone has to pay out of pocket.
Amy Potter for the editorial board.
864-0500 free for
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about
( speak up ) any topic they wish. Kansas 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.
I like the nature but I have to shave my armpits.
Can we have some sandwiches?
I would just like to say welcome to all the freshmen girls. Ka-ching! Ka-ching! Ka-ching!
So the residence halls officially open today, that means a lot of people will be having sex tonight.
Welcome, freshmen, to the Kansan Free For All.
Some of you may have heard about this part of the opinion page already, but for those of you who haven't, the Free For All is where we give you a chance to say whatever you want and see it in print. And as you can see, you don't have to say something serious. When you have an idea, a joke or a comment you want to share with the rest of campus, all you have to do is call the Free For All number. You'll then have 20 seconds to speak. Usually, we have far too many messages to print them all. On those days, you can find the messages that aren't in the paper online at www.kansan.com.
www.MarthaStreet.com
But today, we were a little short. The upper classman have a tendency to forget about Free For All over the summer.
So Freshmen, it's up to you. Give us a ring and fill this space with your ideas. We're waiting for your call.
Intellegnt
Nightlife?
By the Numbers
900 Population of McCollum Hall
15. 125 Bottles of free soda given away at Hawk Week 2001
Population of Lecompton Kansas
Sources: Housing Dept. Web site and Lecompton home page.
Regular cost of a bottle of soda on campus
Source: The End of Year Report for the Coca-Cola Product Donation Board.
10 Number of libraries in Lawrence
Number of liquor stores in Lawrence
Source: Lawrence telephone directory
PERSPECTIVE
Attentive readers will notice opinion page changes
take a look at this page. Take a good long look. Over to the left there is Free For All. There's another column below this
I look. Over to the left there is Free For All. There's another column below this one and an editorial cartoon above. Looks pretty much the same, doesn't it? That's where you're wrong.
COMMENTARY
We've actually made some big changes to the editorial page this semester, but they aren't things you're going to notice on day one. And they aren't things you're going to notice if all you read on this page is someone's drunken admission that they like to shave their armpits.
But those of you who are paying attention will see them.
If you've ever had a favorite Kansan columnist, if you've ever wondered what the Chancellor thinks about, if you've ever wished you had more than 20 seconds to tell us what you think; these changes are for you.
Maggie Koerth mko.orth@kansan.com
We started with the columnists.
This semester, you won't have to sit around wondering when the next column by your favorite political firebrand or funny guy is coming out. All the regular columnists are now on a two-week rotation schedule.
So if you really like the columns that we print this Thursday,you can read new columns by the same authors two Thursdays from now.
We still have guest columns, but we figure you'll read the opinion page more often (and enjoy it more) if you have some idea of what will be there.
Another big change we made will show up next Monday.
That's when we'll publish the first in a series of monthly guest columns by Chancellor Robert Hemenway and Student Body President Jonathan Ng.
These two men play a big role in shaping how this university is run. Now, they will be able to tell you, in their own words, about the decisions they make, the issues they care about and how both will affect you.
and how both of them will give you a better understanding of how and why changes happen (or don't) on campus.
But what happens when something you've read on the opinion page makes you angry, excited or curious?
In the past, you have had 20 seconds on Free For All to tell us what you think. Many of you have also written letters to the editor and guest columns. But let's face it, both of these outlets are one-sided conversations. You end up having to wait for the next round of letters or columns to find out what other people think of your ideas.
We wanted to give you the chance to actually communicate, not just talk. That's where the last two changes come in.
the last two changes happened.
First, we've added polls and discussion boards to the opinion page Web site on www.kansan.com. When we put up a new thread or poll, we'll tell you about it here, then you can go online, post and find out what other Kansan readers think, instantly.
Secondly, at least once this semester the editorial staff will host an open town hall forum. The topic will be an issue or a problem that you've shown us you care about. The forum will give you a chance to talk face to face with members of the editorial board and other people relevant to the issue.
Both students and Lawrence residents will be welcome.
Plus, the forum will be broadcast over KUJH campus television, so even if you can't come you can still watch.
We are excited about the changes we've made for fall and we hope you enjoy them.
More importantly, we hope that they encourage you to pay more attention to this page and what's going on on your campus.
Koerth is a Salina senior in anthropology and journalism. She is opinion editor.
PERSPECTIVE
Readers can help improve 'Kansan' quality
As a high school senior visiting the University of Kansas campus, I noticed something about The University Daily Kansan that I hadn't noticed about any college newspaper I'd seen then. Haven't seen it since either.
seet it since they were masterly reported or flawlessly edited. Like any college newspaper, The Kansan's content had, still has and will always have its share of unanswered questions and misspelled words.
sweeter questions and answers
What I noticed was that as students stepped off those ancient-looking campus buses, nearly everyone picked up a copy of the paper on their way to class. It struck me then, and continues to amaze me on a daily basis, what an integral part of KU this newspaper is, and how accessible it is to students with a vast array of interests and convictions.
array of interests and convictions. Kansas staff members have worked hard during the three years that I've been at KU to
Jay Krall jkrall@kansan.com
COMMENTARY
make it easy for all students to make a contribution to the paper and feel connected to what is probably the most unifying entity on campus. The Kansan is a force of cohesion at KU even when students strongly disagree with the viewpoints presented in our stories or the way we portray the news.
That's because when students don't like
the way issues facing students are being handled or how we're covering them, they step forward and use this newspaper to take an active role.
This is the most visible forum available for conveying your perspective and participating in the debate.
in the debate.
If you like what you read in *The Kansan* each day and think we do a good job, it's to your credit. Your attentiveness to all kinds of issues and concerns facing students is what obligates us to do our best to bring you balanced coverage. Also, your direct contributions improve our quality, whether through a letter to the editor, a photo sent to Camera on KU, an e-mail with a news tip or a call to the Free for All.
Conversely, if you think the Kansan aucks, it's your fault — at least in part.
If you read the paper this semester you're engaging in a forum for the discussion of
One way to get involved is to help us plan what the paper is going to look like.
The meeting lasts about 20 minutes and there will be time allotted for you to let us know what you think our top stories should be.
Call that same number with a tip or a story.
We have limited space at our daily 4:30 p.m. news meeting, so all we ask is that you call the newsroom at 864-4810 to let us know you're coming.
While The Kansas's news planning meetings we always been open to the public, this semester we're making a special effort to invite everyone in the University community help us decide which stories to publish each day and where in the paper they'll appear.
events, issues and ideas. There are dozens of ways you can take active part in that discussion, and most don't require much time.
idea. Or, just drop by the newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Plint Hall, and let us know what's going on.
going on.
The Free-for-All number is 864.0500. Call and speak your mind for 20 seconds — as many times as you want. E-mail your comments on a story to editor@kansan.com, or to the reporter who wrote it. Participate in kansan.com's discussion forums. Bring us photos of a special event or just hanging out with friends for publication in our Camera on KU feature on page 2A.
Whether this is your first or last semester at KU, The Kansan can connect you to this campus and make your time at KU more meaningful.
Especially if you help us.
Krall is a Bartlett, III., senior in journalism.
He is editor.