4A
Tuesdav. January 12, 1992
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
IN OUR OPINION
Aloha Bowl victory is KU's season reward
Congratulations to the KU football team on its victory in the Aloha Bowl Christmas Day. The Jayhawks finish the season in the Top 25 for the first time since 1971. Not only was the game itself a success, but the whole postseason was a success for the Jayhawks and Coach Glen Mason.
In this age of corporate-sponsored bowls and million dollar television contracts, a lot of Division I programs take bowls for granted, seeing anything short of a national championship as disappointing. Coach Mason, on the other hand, put the team's Aloha Bowl bid into the perspective that bowl games were originally intended — as a reward for a season of hard work. This reward included a week long trip to Hawaii and national television exposure on Christmas Day. Mason set a 2 a.m. curfew for his team and encouraged the players to enjoy their trip, including a tour of the Pearl Harbor Memorial and a generous dose of beach time. After all, how many people get the chance to go to Hawaii twice?
Although the Jayhawks could have been playing on New Year's Day in the Fiesta or Orange Bowls, for a team that had experienced such a turnaround so quickly, the trip to Hawaii and all that accompanied it was the perfect finish.
The Aloha Bowl was the fifth-most-watched bowl on television, attracting more viewers than a host of New Year's Day bowls, including the Orange Bowl with Nebraska. Such national exposure in a victory against a tradition-rich Brigham Young team, coupled with the convincing victory against Oklahoma in October will certainly continue to attract blue chip talent to Lawrence. With hard work under Coach Mason's continued leadership, more bowl rewards are certainly in the Jayhawks' future.
JEFF HAYS FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Efforts must continue for missing KU student
In the early morning hours of Dec. 11 a graduating KU senior, Alexis Dillard, disappeared. As dawn broke on this tragic day and word of the shocking news quickly spread, KU students were brought together for a special cause: to find one of their own-to find Alexis Dillard.
Since Dillard's disappearance about a month ago, the search for the SUA vice president and Phi Gamma Delta fraternity member has not waned. Hundreds of fliers have been distributed in Lawrence, Eudora and all along I-70. Numerous searches along the banks of the Kansas River have been done by law enforcement officers, family, friends and members of his fraternity and the Kansas Air National Guard were conducted.
These and other endless efforts to find Dillard have proved unsuccessful. Yet hope still abounds, especially among the 29,000 students who call KU home. Dillard's disappearance has ignited the coalescing of many people. It has shined a different perspective on KU, informing students that we don't always have to think of ourselves as numbers, but we can indeed know that we are cared for as persons, too.
Hence, it is vitally important that we, the student body of KU, don't lose sight of this fact-that we use this shared concern for Alexis Dillard to aid in the search that will hopefully find him.
Dillard, through his disappearance, has renewed care and compassion in us. For this we owe his family and friends all our support. We've demonstrated great spirit so far. Let's not give up now.
KYLE KICKHAEFER FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Kansan's changes focus on community, students
During my first four semesters at the University Daily Kansan, change abounded.
I saw the Kansan computer system progress from primitive video-display terminals, which were known by staff members as Fisher Price computers, to a Macintosh-based system. In addition, I saw the Kansan redesign its pages in an attempt to make the newspaper more attractive and easier to read.
But most importantly, as the Kansan's managing editor last semester I witnessed a change in philosophy. Editors, reporters, photographers and copy editors worked as a team to produce the best possible product. And under the editorship of a good friend and colleague, Eric Nelson, the Kansan was an improved newspaper.
I am in the unique position of entering my fifth and final semester at the Kansan with little need for drastic change.
One part of my job is to institute some minor changes to better serve
Therefore, I can focus my attention on two goals: taking the Kansan from the good newspaper it was last semester to the great newspaper it can be this semester, and improving the communication between the Kansan and the University of Kansas and Lawrence communities.
The Sports page will add a Wednesday feature on intramural sports. This feature will include the intramural sports standings and one story about the events or their participants.
For instance, the Kansan produced a Features page twice a week last semester. These pages provided the increased coverage of arts and entertainment that the Kansan desperately needed. But even more features coverage is necessary. Therefore, the Kansan will run Features pages three days a week, on Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays
The daily On Campus calendar will be extended to include as many entries as space will allow. Because of the many complaints I received last semester about the On Campus calendar omitting entries or containing incorrect information, special care will be taken to verify the accuracy and timeliness of each entry.
On the Opinion page a special effort was made this semester to hire editorial writers and columnists who are representative of the University community. With the diversity of this staff all sides of issues will be heard. In addition, the Opinion page will continue to run guest columns and letters to the editor as space will allow.
But the most important part of my job is to encourage communication between the Kansan and the University and Lawrence communities and to return the Kansan staff's attention to serving our readers.
This semester, staff members' concerns should not be with changing technology or changing design. Their concerns will be the University, its faculty, staff and students, its teams
and organizations and its issues and controversies.
The Kansan is recognized by journalism professionals as one of the best daily college newspapers in the United States. Last semester the Kansan received a National Pacemaker Award, known as the Pulitzer Prize of college journalism, for the 1991-92 school year. In addition, an issue of last semester's Kansan won the Best-of-Show award at the Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Advisers convention.
The national recognition is nice, and we are proud of it. But to me it is more important what members of the University and Lawrence communities think of the Kansan. My top priority this semester is on improving relations between the Kansan and these communities.
When you have a question, concern or complaint about something you saw or something you wish you had seen in the Kansan, call me at 864-4810 or come into the Kansan office, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. I'm in the office every day.
In addition, I will make myself available to any campus or area group that wants to talk about the Kansan. Topics can vary from how to get the Kansan to cover your events to concerns or complaints about the coverage you have received.
In general, I will be demanding of myself and the staff, and I will be happy only when the product you see is the best it possibly can be. But the Kansan can only be at its best when members of the University and Lawrence communities tell us what they think.
Kansan Editor Greg Farmer is an Oatley senior majoring in journalism.
NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
New Congress should mend
sleeves: "Get ye to the finance committee, or the appropriations committee, and make sure ye old constituents are not forgotten when the pie is sliced."
Much sounder advice would go like this: "Get ye to the land of grants, subsidies and entitlements and do something about the federal deficit before we all go down with the ship."
spending ways
Cincinnati Enquirer Jan.4,1993
The new Congress is assembling in Washington, and it's hard to know whether to cheer, salute or lock up the silverware. Will this be another free-spending bunch? Or will santa prevail? Will the budget deficit rise? Or will lawmakers cut costs for a change?
It's a new beginning, all right. And there is no denying that relations between Congress and the White House will be less acrimonious now that Democrats dominate both. The danger is that the back slapping and geniality will degenerate into a spending party with taxpayers footing the bill.
Admittedly, the climate in Congress is not conducive to theft. Newcomers seem to arrive with a proclamation pinned to their
EDITORIAL EDITOR
Applicants for editorial page broaden discussions
Back in November, I had no idea that so many people would react so strongly to one of my columns. However, the invitation to the University community to apply and become staff columnists and members of the editorial board was met with an overwhelming response. This has led to one of the largest editorial staffs in recent years at the Kansan and will also assure that many viewpoints are represented on the Opinion page.
Late last spring when I was beginning to construct the staffs for the fall editorial page, the cry for participation fell on deaf ears. Only five people applied, and we had to look for more participants at the beginning of the semester. I sensed I had failed to adequately inform the University community of the opportunities available at the Kansan. You don't have to be a journalism student to write on the Opinion page. In fact, we encourage individuals who have different experiences and perspectives to become involved.
Last semester, we were able to achieve a high level of success, but it wasn't easy. We had columnists and editorial writers who covered both sides of the political spectrum. That upset and confused some people, but it made for a more balanced Opinion page. Our goal last semester was to spark discussion in many different areas: international, national, state, local and campus. I believe we achieved it, but I am committed to doing even better this spring.
So we wanted to get the word out about serving on the Kansan. Based on what I had experienced the semester before, I wasn't optimistic about the response we might receive. Needless to say, the response was overwhelming. More than 50 people applied to be either a columnist, editorial board member or cartoonist. Some were people who had been involved with the Kansan before, but most were just average students who wanted to get involved. Almost without exception, every application was well put together and showed that time and consideration had been given to producing the best results possible. Believe me it showed. I had the unpleasant task of having to read all the applications knowing that more people would be turned down than asked to work for the Kansan.
We had 10 openings on the editorial board and eight spots for columnists. Obviously, not everyone was going to find a place.
To those who applied but were not selected — you're not alone. And just because you were turned down doesn't mean there was no quality in what you submitted. The numbers game unfortunately worked against too many people.
As the semester begins, I hope you, our readers, enjoy the discussion created in the Kansan. Guest columns and letters to the editor are encouraged. This page provides an opportunity to respond to the ideas we present with which you might disagree and an opportunity for you to present ideas of your own.
I've said it before and once again, this is the page committed to you and your ideas. Take time to contribute to the discussion of the campus and your fellow students.
Editorial Editor Stephen Martino is an Aiola junior majoring in political science.
KANSAN STAFF
GREG FARMER
Editor
GAYLE OSTERBERG Managing editor
STEVE PERRY Business manage
TOM EHLEN DEANNE HINES
General manager, news adviser Sales and marketing adviser
MELISSA TERLIP
Retail sales manage
BILL SKEET, Technology coordinator
Editors Business Staff
Asst Managing... Justin Knupp Campus sales mgr... Brad Breon
News... Monique Guialain Regional Sales mgr... Wade Baxter
David Mitchell National sales mgr... Jennifer Perrier
Editorial... Stephen Martine Co-op sales mgr... Ashley Hessel
Campus... KC Trauner Production mgrs... Amy Stumbo
Sports... David Mitchell
Photo... Mark Rowlands Ashley Langford
Features... Lynne McAdoo Marketing director... Angela Cleverman
Graphics... Dan Schauer Classified mgr Jill Torney
**Letters should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 200 words. They must include the writer's signature, name, address and telephone number. Writers affiliated with the University of Kansas must include class and hometown, or faculty or staff position.**
**Guest columns should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be photographed.**
The Kansas reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansas newroom, 111 Staffer Flint Hall.
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