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Tuesday, December 8, 1992
OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
IN OUR OPINION
Neo-Nazis have a right to show their ignorance
In a seemingly desperate attempt to stop the rise of far-right violence in Germany that has left 16 dead in almost 1,800 attacks this year, the German government has taken a step in the wrong direction.
The government's decision to create a new police unit specifically to monitor and combat extremist groups was announced a day after the government banned a neo-Nazi group in a response to rightist violence.
The German Interior Minister Rudolf Seiters is now considering the use of constitutional powers that allow him to revoke the basic civil rights of citizens who are judged violently hostile to democracy. These people could be forbidden from public speaking, voting and from being elected to public office. The federal government is expected to soon ban at least one more neo-Nazi group.
The repression of people because of their beliefs, no matter how twisted or wrong they may be, does nothing to further the ideals of democracy. As we have witnessed countless times and in countless nations, repression leads only to revolt.
According to the German police, there are about 40,000 extreme rightists in Germany, 5,000 of whom are prone to violence. The repression of these people will do nothing to stop their two-year campaign against asylum-seekers and other foreigners; it will only prolong it.
Given the liberty to express themselves in a law-abiding manner, these people will unwittingly show others their true ignorance. The government should intervene only when their actions go outside of the law, by arresting and jailing them. Citizens who feel they must protest against racism and xenophobia should do what tens of thousands did recently in more than 20 German cities - demonstrate peacefully.
JEANNY MARTIN F FOR THE EDIFIORAL BOARD
JEANNY MARTIN F FOR THE EDIFIORAL BOARD
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Panhellenic ban misrepresented in Kansan story
The Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Association wish to respond to the front page article, "Sorortories' ban faces opposition," in the Thursday, Dec. 3, 1992 edition of the Kansan concerning the amendment to the Panhellenic Association Bylaws.
The amendment states: "Chapters of the KU Panhellenic Association will not participate in any official or unofficial contest sponsored by other University of Kansas organizations that may have the potential of being degrading to women."
The amendment, which was composed to address the degradation of sorority women during events sponsored by other University organizations, was passed by the chapter delegates of the Panhellenic Association in September with a 13-2-0 vote and was introduced to the General Assembly of the Interfraternity Council on October 6.
The Interfraternity Council fully supports the Panhellenic Association amendment, as well as any other efforts to promote human dignity. Any opposition to the Panhellenic amendment, which resulted from miscommunication between the two organizations.
was resolved immediately following the October 6 meeting.
In reporting the story, the journalism student failed to acquire any statement from the executive board of the implied "opposition," the Interfraternity Council. Nor did he seek comment from the current executive boards of either organization. Additionally, some of the information provided by Jennifer Zucco, past Panhellenic Association executive board member, was printed out of context.
The executive boards of the Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Association feel that it is important to clarify any misconceptions about the bylaw in order to prevent any further confusion concerning both organizations' positions on the issue and would welcome any questions regarding the new Panhellenic Association Amendment.
Chad Seymour
IFC President
■ Josh Connell
IFC Vice President
for Public Relations
Danielle Roussel
Panhellenic Association
President
Angela Wennihaa
Panhellenic Vice President
for Public Relations
Common sayings guide some lives but not mine
SCOTT HANNA Business manager
BILL LEIBENGOOD
Retail sales manager
GREG FARMER Managing editor
ERIC NELSON
Editor
Like most young men of my generation, I believed in the saying our mothers passed on to us: "Always wear clean underwear, so if you get in an accident and go to the hospital, you won't be embarrassed."
"Essentially, I am looking for a saying that has given you comfort, kept you focused on your goals, or inspired you during your life. The saying can be one that you composed or it can be from some other source.
A flattering invitation recently arrived. It was from Joseph Neely, an author in Michigan, who wrote: "I am compiling a book which features the favorite sayings of successful persons such as you. This book is intended to inspire people and give them some insight into the philosophies which help certain people to accomplish significant tasks.
That's still a good idea, although I would add, with pastel colors.
At different times, a variety of sayings have helped me in one way or another.
BILL SKEET, Technology coordinator Edited
That's an impressive group, and I'd like to be in it. But I've never had one favorite saying that inspired, comforted or focused me throughout my life. And I don't have any that would be likely to inspire someone else to lead a better life.
"As of this date, I have received contributions for this book from a diverse group of persons, including former NATO commander and White House Chief of Staff Alexander Haig Jr.; minister and author Norman Vincent Peale; Dr. Deborah McGriff, the first African-American woman to serve as superintendent of a major urban school system; and Notre Dame's head football coach Lou Holtz, to name just a few."
KANSAN STAFF
JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser
Asst. Managing Almee Brinton.
News Alexander Bloomhof.
Editorial Stephen Martino.
Campus Gayle Osterberg.
Sports Shelly Solon.
Photo Justin Knapp.
Features Cody Holt.
Graphics Sean Tewls
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
Editors
Business Staff
As a lad, I abided by a saying in my neighborhood that went, "Don't go on the other side of Chicago Avenue, because the Italian kids there will always jump a Polock."
Campus sales mgr .. Angela Clevenger
Regional sales mgr .. Melissa Tellett
National sales mgr .. Brian Wilkes
Co-op sales mgr .. Amy Stumbo
Production mgrs .. Brad Bron
Claxton
Marketing director .. Ashley Langford
Creative lead .. Judih Standley
Classified mgr .. Judith Standley
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 homework, or faculty or staff position.
Guest columns should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be
Guest columnists should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be photographed.
The one time I became careless, a group of young men surrounded me and demanded my name. I said, "Rocko Rico Royko," which I thought was a clever ruse.
The Kansas reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansas newsroom, 111 Staffer-Final Hall.
Slats has always tossed off this salutation when saying goodbye to friends, "Stay out of the trees, watch out for the wild goose and take care of your hernia."
But they jumped me anyway. That experience led me to believe in
So I guess I won't qualify for Mr. Neely's book of inspirational sayings. Unless he would consider using one of my friend Slats Grobnik's lines.
COLUMNIST
When I ask what it means, he shrugs and says, "Just do it; you won't go wrong."
MIKE ROYKO
the saying that is familiar to many Cub fans, "You win some, you lose some, but mostly you lose some."
For that matter a puppy's got to do what a puppy's got to do. That life, which is a favorite make of Frank Sinatra. Or maybe Mike Ditka.
He's right, but I'm not sure it's something to live by. Unless you have a hernia.
Then there was my grandfather's favorite saying, "Never trust a Russian."
He said that long before the Cold War began. So I asked my grandmother what he meant by that. And she provided me with another meaning, "Never trust your drunken grandfather."
And another mentor had a saying I tried to follow, "Be nice to the copy boy, even if he's a mope, because he might grow up to be your boss someday."
Several of my friends have sayings that I like, although I'm not sure what they mean. For example, Studs Terkel, the author and broadcaster, always ends his radio by saying "Take it easy, but take it."
And sure enough, several mopes did.
But when feminists heightened my social sensitivities, I realized it was a sexist saying. After all, the feminists pointed out, we could just as well say, "A woman's got to do what a woman's got to do."
I used to be impressed by the line John Wayne uttered in so many of his western movies, "A man's got to do what a man's got to do."
Later, when I was in the military, I placed great faith in the popular saying, "Don't never volunteer for nothing."
Early in my newspaper career, a wise old reporter passed along a saying that helped me become thrifty. He said, "Always stash away some (deleted) money, so if you get a boss你 hate, you can say, '(Deleted) you,' and quit."
I once asked him if that was something he learned when he went to law school, but he denied it.
But it didn't make much difference, because if you didn't volunteer, they made you do it anyway.
The late Marty O'Connor, a Chicago reporter, used to say, "Only suckers beef." He said it was an old South Side Irish expression. While it sounded manly, it wouldn't make sense today, when the most successful specialinterest groups are those that beef the loudest and most often. Now the saying should be, "Only suckers don't form an organization, compile a list of unreasonable demands and hold a crabbie press conference."
I'm still saying.
Anyway, I appreciate Mr. Neely's kind invitation. Although I haven't been able to contribute to his book, he did give something to write about. As I always say, "Another day another."
Some co-workers once tired of hearing me complain about not having anything to write about. So they put an inspirational plaque on my wall that showed a little sailboat with limp sails and a man pulling some oars. It bore the words, "When there's no wind, row."
But I've since taken it down and replaced it with a sign that says, "When there is no wind, book a cabin on a cruise ship, sit by the pool, order
a cool drink and look at the babes."
Mike Royko is a syndicated columnist with the Chicago Tribune.
Carlos Fleming is a Cleveland senior majoring in political science.
GUEST COLUMNIST
CARLOS FLEMING Hispanics should not blame office for problem
If students of color are to stay united, we must remain focused on the goals which have brought us to the brink of a potentially historic change at this University. With the submission of the latest minority task force's recommendations and a resolution passed by Student Senate demanding a higher status for the Office of Minority Affairs, we may all receive the "bigger pie" that Kathy Healy, HALO's faculty adviser, so desperately wants. If you want a bigger pie, you have to talk to the baker! The Office of Minority Affairs functions as a lauson between the higher administrators and minority students. With no increased budget or staff in the past several years and operations that have nearly tripled, the Office of Minority Affairs has been vicariously captured by scapegoats. While I resent many of the statements made by the Hispanic students, I know there is a larger, more important cause to fight for in which universal commitment is imperative.
The cycle can be characterized by:
1) meetings; 2) more meetings; 3) meetings to evaluate meetings; 4) meetings to make recommendations about meetings; 5) meetings to submit the recommendations; and 6) no action.
One must simply note the Minority Issues Task Force action plan of 1988-1989, which advocated the empowerment of minority students through the Office of Minority Affairs as well as other resources. In 1988-1989, Curtis Triggs was a sophomore in high school; however, in 1991-'92, he was sitting on the African American Student Concerns Task Force, which also focused on empowering minority students through the Office of Minority Affairs. There had been no change. This is one example of a continuing trend of apathy from the administration toward minority students at the University of Kansas. We are all frustrated, and we all want to see change.
Minority discontent is not a new subject at the University of Kansas. Throughout my tenure at KU, I have witnessed the disappearance and resurfacing of numerous ethical impurities within our community
While it is true that one must address the problem to promote change, the next step is finding the solutions. Therein lies my frustration with Angela Cervantes and other members of the Hispanic American Leadership Organization who have launched an attack on the Office of Minority Affairs. They are simply "shooting the messenger." It would be hypocritical for me to criticize the concerns of Hispanic students, because they are identical to the concerns of African-American students; however, experience tells me that no one in the Office of Minority Affairs is confined to recommending policy that the higher administrators must evaluate. History indicates that the administration will grudgingly make concessions in an attempt to pacify minority students.
"A house divided will not stand," and as long as the Hispanic students continue to attack the people who are fighting for a common cause, the ultimate goal of empowering all minority students will be lost.
Loco Locals
By Tom Michaud
Will YOU HAVE ME
AS ONE OF YOUR
CHARACTERS?
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