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Wednesday, October 14, 1992
OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
homer
IN OUR OPINION
GTAs hard work gives them the right to form a union
This week the Kansas Public Employee Relations Board was expected to commence hearings to determine if graduate teaching assistants at the
determine if graduate teaching assistants at the University are employees. The motivation behind the University's action is an attempt to legally prohibit graduate employees from organizing a union. The reasoning is simple. If GTAs are not employees then they do not have the right to unionize.
The University will argue that GTAs are at KU to obtain an education. Therefore, their work does not constitute employment. It is a form of financial aid. It is obvious that GTAs are employees, regardless of their reasons for being at KU. GTAs work in more than 50 percent of the undergraduate programs. Their responsibilities are often comparable to those of professors. GTAs develop syllabuses, lecture, grade and hold student conferences. Many are key employees in research projects, museum management and administration.
Furthermore, taxes are withheld from GTA paychecks. They are covered by workers compensation, sign contracts and employee oaths to the state of Kansas. But the question of this trial is if GTAs are employees according to the Kansas Public Employer-Employee Relations Act. This is a crucial question because unionization is viewed as the only way for GTAs to secure much-needed benefits.
Last spring, GTA union organizers were able to collect the required amount of show-of-interest cards from the graduate employee population. Only a 30 percent show of interest was needed for the right to vote for representation by the Kansas Association of Public Employee/ American Federation of Teachers (KAPE/AFT). A 50 percent show of interest was voiced in just two months.
Whether this delay is a ploy to weaken GTA momentum or simply a common legal routine, the important point is that GTAs will not be discouraged. In fact, the history of similar cases is quite encouraging. If KU follows the trend of the University of Michigan, the University of California at Berkeley, to name a few, then GTAs could be voting for the opportunity to organize as a union as early as Spring 1993. First, they must win the fight to be recognized as employees.
right to be recognized. GTA's must maintain their spirit of solidarity and their informed optimism about their rights. Their irreplaceable role at KU remains one of their best defenses.
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Freshman reader
This is in reference to the Oct. 7 letter by Scott William.
update grow up
Hello? I'm assuming you are a true freshman who is wet behind the ears and unfamiliar with what has gone on during the Bush Administration. Listen up pal. What exactly is it that you think Bush can do for this country? He has trouble with geography. His vice-screw-up can't spell the word potato, which coincidentally is in the same food group as his brain — vegetable. Reading his lips is an insurance policy for poverty.
Contrary to your opinion, hard work is not a prerequisite for wealth. There are lot of rich people who have no idea what it is like to work hard. On the other hand, I know plenty of people who have sweat rolling off their backs every day but will never be in the same tax bracket as the rich. So don't tell me about hard work.
As for "What ever happened to hard work?" I tell me tell you. While you were still going through puberty, a bunch of ignorant conservatives elected Bush.
I also want to know exactly what you meant by "What is left of this country?" What is left, pal, is nothing to brag about. Relations about
suck. The poor are getting poorer while the rich get richer. Education is being thrown to the curb. Millions of sick people can't afford health care because Bush's conservative friends in Congress keep side-stepting the issue. And don't think what he has done, or more accurately, what he hasn't done, hasn't affected this campus.
Pro-choice? Pro-gay? You're damn straight. Those are the attitudes that keep the issues in the hands of the people, not the government. If you want talk about pro-this and pro-that, think again because you are a pro-jerk.
While I'm on a roll, hardy think that the Kansan is anti-Christ. Please! One last thing before you run to get your Kleenex, don't go comparing what the Bible says to what conservatives say — that is anti-Christ. It's sacrilegious, and you need to chill on that pal. If you truly knew what it meant to follow the word of the Bible, then you wouldn't even bring it into the political realm. Maybe you need to grow up a little first and then bitch about what is written in the Kansan. Oh, and you might want to check out the want ads since you are so keen on hard work. That way daddy can stop sending you spending money.
Sioux Falls,SD.,graduate student
U.S. voters win first round of the presidential debates
Sunday night, I watched the presidential debate. As a voter concerned about the issues, I was interested in finally hearing what the candidates had to say without all of the sound bites. I liked what I heard.
My suspicions were confirmed. Ross Perot has no idea what he is doing.
The people put me on the ballots of all 50 states, so I will be their servant," be said.
Give me a break. A billionaire ego-
niac is not going to take orders
from the people. That is not the way
his mind works. A businessman is
accustomed to giving orders, not tak-
ing them. Perot does not even want to
be told how to run his campaign. Ed
Rollins or Hamilton Jordan, who were so frustrated by their boss' stubbornness they quit.
Perot's plans for change are hazy outside reducing the deficit. He is accurate in admitting that his plan will be a bitter pill to swallow, and in some ways, it makes sense. We do need to move the job base away from minimum wage labor, and our infrastructure must be rebuilt. But increasing the burden on the average American is not appropriate. Besides, Ross would never be able to get a majority to approve these plans through his little "town hall" meetings.
STAFF COLUMNIST
I must admit. Perot was entertaining. His one liners, the ear joke in particular, were unusually witty for a presidential debate. However, it is time for Ross to realize that, people are laughing at him, not with him.
DAVID FRANKEL
On the other side of the spectrum,
Bill Clinton amazed me. I cannot
believe he did not learn from the examples of Michael Dukakis. He seemed so tense and cold that he will turn off many voters. His wishing Hillary a happy anniversary was a nice touch, but the rest of his presentation was permeated by insincerity.
However, Clinton really hurt himself by his inability to give a straight answer. I suspect that he remained noncommittual throughout the entire debate so he won't get caught in a flip-flop next week. He was not even clear when discussing tax issues, supposedly his strong suit. He says that he will raise taxes only on those who make more than $200,000 a year, and offers modest relief to those under $52,000. Or, is it for those under $60,000? He said both.Perhaps he is unsure of his own policy.
Someone on Clinton's staff needs to inform him that ostracizing Reagan Democrats will hurt him in the long run, because if wants to win the swing states, he will need their support.
What about everyone in between these incomes? Are they not part of the equation? Clinton wants to generate $150 billion in new revenue by raising taxes on the wealthy, but that increase will not generate that much money. It will force those people to avoid investing in the business and industry sectors, as well as create new difficulties for those who want to start their own small business.
Thanks to Clinton's eavaciousness and indecision, Bush will eventually gain from the debates. He was relaxed and sounded as if he really cares. His weak point is supposedly the economy, but he made it very clear that tax breaks, as well as loans for small businesses, would guarantee that he will not "sock it to the average person." What he said in the debate was clear and consistent with his agenda, and set him apart from the others.
The two things that struck me about Bush was his sincerity about AIDS and his concern for single parents. By appointing Mary Fisher, President Bush has found a leader who is concerned with everyone who suffers from that disease. As far as addressing single parent families, Bush mentioned the attack of a problem that neither Clinton or Perot touched on.
— going after those "deadbeat dads" who don't care enough about their children to provide for them.
The debate did an excellent job of cutting through the non-issues and focusing on important things. People were given an opportunity to confirm their opinions and formulate their choices. The winner of the debate was not Bush, Clinton or Perot.
David Frankel is a St. Louis senior majoring in political science.
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Action needed in Yugoslavia
tolerates this,can it still claim to be pushing for a new world order?
At this stage of numbed consciences, one can ask whether the revelations in the U.S. press concerning the execution of thousands of Muslim prisoners by Serb militants will provoke any real shock.
La Republique du Centre
Orleans, France
The facts, reported by "credible eyewitnesses," confirm fears that have been voiced many times. An inquiry commission won't serve any purpose if the United Nations isn't firmly resolved to act and to punish
The United States and the European Community are threatening a trade war. The General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade system for managing trade according to internationally accepted rules is precariously poised. If there is no significant breakthrough in farm
The U.S. position is inconsistent, but its conclusions are clear. Unless there is a Uruguay Round agreement giving the GATT stronger powers to settle disputes, the United States will use its strength unilaterally.
trade reforms during meetings between U.S. and EC officials, trade will be seriously compromised.
Global trade requires reform
The word "genocide" has been spoken. If the international community
Europe's farm trade regime should never be allowed to ruin the wider potential benefits — in services trade, protection of intellectual property rights, and in improved market access — offered by the Uruguay Round.
Financial Times London
KANSAN STAFF
ERIC NELSON
Editor
BILL SKEET, Technology coordinator
GREG FARMER Managing editor
TOM EBLEN
General manager,news adviser
Asst. Managing Alimee Brainard
News Alexander Bloemhoft
Editorial Stephen Martino
Campus Gayle Osterberg
Sports Shely Solon
Photo Justin Krupp
Features Cody Holt
Graphics Sean Teixis
Business Staff
Campus sales mgr    Angela Clewenn
Regional sales mgr    Melanie Terkil
National sales mgr    Brian Wilkes
Co-op sales mgr    Amy Stumbo
Production mgrs    Brad Brun
Marketing director    Ashley Langford
Creative director    Valerie Spicher
Classified mgr    Judith Stanley
Loco Locals
SCOTT HANNA
Business manager
BILL LEIBENGOOD
Retail sales manager
JEANNE HINES
Sales and marketing adviser
Letters should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 200 words. They must include the writer's signature, name, address and telephone number. Writeers affiliated with the University of Kansas must include class and homerow, or faculty or staff position.
Guest columns should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be photographed.
The kaiser reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansas newsroom, 111 Stauffer Flint Hall.
Associate editorial editor David Mitchell is a DeSoto senior majoring in Journalism.
It was also pointed out that if President Bush came to campus, the spirit squad would roll out the red carpet for him too. So my next question is, is there any limit to who can rent the mascot? That's right, these appearances usually lead to "contributions." Personally, I don't ever want to see Baby Jay hugging Ross Peret, no matter how much money he can offer. Hey, David Duke, come on out to Lawrence. Here's a group that doesn't discriminate against who it supports, even if you do.
I was amazed that such a political event — a Democratic bonanza— could happen here in this traditionally Republican state. But as I scanned the crowd around the stage for some sign of Hillary, several items of crimson and blue caught my eye. In full spirit regalia, there was the KU spirit squad: cheerleaders, yell leaders and even Baby Jay. What in the hell were they doing at a political rally?
Yesterday I went to the Hillary Clinton rally on Campanile Hill. The turnout of 6,500 was an awesome sight. The event was a coup for state Democrats who managed to get in plugs for Congressman Jim Slattery, Senate candidate Gloria O'Dell and Gov. Joan Finney.
If the mascot or the cheerleaders want to attend political rallies, they have every right to. But when they appear in uniform, the message it sends is a confusing one. The spirit office pointed out that the squad was there to promote the bipartisan theme which encouraged students to register and vote. OK, but in truth, Hillary talked about voting for about five minutes and talked about voting for her husband for 15.
Good question.
YOU KNOW, KATTE,
ONLY THE FOULISH
AND THE DREAD ALONE
NEVER CHANGE THEIR
OPINIONS, SAID JAMES
LOWELL.
DAVID MITCHELL Spirit squad's appearance with Hillary was wrong
中國SDD寶立
Usually, I am an adamant defender of this organization. Few campus groups are less appreciated or underfinanced. The group is forced to find sponsors and take contributions just to stay afloat. The pittance they receive from the athletic department is not even enough to pay coaches real salaries, let alone pay for scholarships or any other form of support that varsity athletes can expect.
Jim Scaly, assistant to the chancellor, pointed out to a Kansan reporter that if Baby Jay ate Wheaties for breakfast, it did not mean that the University endorses General Mills. But Baby Jay does not eat breakfast in public with cameras rolling.
this is not a sport people get involved in because it will pay for their education or because they might be able to pursue it professionally after graduation. They do it because they love it, and they love their school. The group has participated in worthwhile community activities, such as an anti-drug campaign in the public schools. In the stadium, students can take pride in this organization that won a national championship just two years ago and finished fifth at nationals last year.
But what they were doing outside the stadium yesterday illustrated poor judgment. What message was conveyed when Baby Jay hugged Hillary Clinton on national television? Does the University endorse Bill Clinton? Of course not. Does it look inappropriate? Yes.
By Tom Michaud