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Wednesday, September 30,1992
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
IN OUR OPINION
Review of Roe v. Wade may bring understanding
The Attorney General of Louisiana is deciding whether to appeal the state's federal appeals court ruling that struck down Louisiana's abortion law. The Louisiana law proposes to ban all abortions except to save the mother's life or in certain cases of rape or incest. This is an important case because it could lead to the reversal of the 1973 Supreme Court ruling of Roe vs. Wade.
When people hear disputes surrounding this landmark case, it most often is marked by high emotions. Such responses are not wrong. For many, abortion is a feminist, religious and personally emotional issue. But the Louisiana case reminds us that there are Constitutionally based legal issues that also need to be addressed. One way to help combat the divisive deadlock on this national issue would be for everyone to familiarize themselves with the legal parameters of this case.
Despite this question, the concern to preserve the life and health of the mother, as well as the privacy issue, were two major rationales of the Roe ruling. Since the mortality rate of childbirth in 1973 was statically higher than deaths from abortions in the first trimester, it was decided that the state could not legitimately interfere. The legality of the second trimester is more problematic. Even in 1973, the rate of abortions in the second trimester was higher than from childbirth.
What did Roe actually decide? Contrary to popular belief, it did not legalize abortion for the first time. Before Roe, the decision was left to individual states. After Roe, it was illegal for states to prescribe abortion in certain circumstances. Namely, states could not ban abortions in the first and second trimester for any reason. In the third trimester they considered the onset of viability - states could prohibit abortion except where necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother.
An important question was what happens one second into the third trimester that suddenly transforms a fetus into a human being? In fact, since 1973, fetuses are routinely viable before 6 months.
In addition, subsequent rulings that drew upon Roe were not motivated by concern for women's health. In 1986, the Thornburgh decision insulted women by insisting women should not be alerted to the full range of medical knowledge surrounding abortion. This would serve to "confuse them and add to their distress."
The right to privacy also remains problematic. Privacy is not explicitly stated in the Constitution, so support for privacy was built largely on the 1965 Griswold vs. Connecticut case. This case ruled it illegal to ban contraception because privacy was within the "penumbra," or zone, of the Bill or Rights. But one difficulty with using Griswold as a rationale for Roe is that abortion is not a contraceptive.
Even many abortion supporters were bothered by the fact that privacy is not an explicit right in the Constitution. Supreme Court judges are supposed to interpret the Constitution, not write it.
It is unlikely that these issues and others that surround abortion will be resolved with the Louisiana law proposal However, Louisiana should pursue its appeal, because these issues, however problematic, must be resolved. Too much is at stake not to. It is the way of our country to attempt to resolve the issues through the courts, with the Constitution as our constant guide.
ANN JURCYK FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
AND SO, WITH THE SEASON PREMIERE OF MURPHY BROWN, THE DEBATE OVER FAMILY VALUES CONTINUES BETWEEN A TV CHARACTER WHO DOESN'T EXIST AND A POLITICAL CHARACTER WHO WON'T EXIST AFTER HIS SEASON FINALE IN NOVEMBER.
Clinton should win race for president by default
A note, postmarked from Indiana, appeared in my mailbox the other day bearing a single, frightening statement: George Bush will win.
The note stated that Bush would knock Clinton like flies off a dead horse. Hmm. It is difficult to determine what could have happened to the mind of a person who would write such a foul thing. Possibly the writer of the note was suffering a terminal bout of depression brought on by too many Quarry jokes. Perhaps a good dose of lithium would level him out. Perhaps not. But, despite such brainless declarations of Republicism, the demise of George Bush remains nigh. And the very thought that Dano will have to color within the lines somewhere other than the vice-presidential mansion should bring a measure of comfort to us all. Who, though, will rise up to replace the group of accursed sots now in power? Answer: the buck-toothed governor of one of the poorest states in the union.
STAFF COLUMNIST
Such a dark and desperate pair of choices has not been before the American voter since 1980, when the buck-toothed then-president went head-to-head with the treacherous, half-senile ex-governor of California. They both fought viciously, and in the end, Reagan won the keys to Air Force One. The results were predictable. In eight years, Reagan managed to damage or destroy everyone and everything he touched, including the economy, international relations and even his own staff. His heir, George Bush, has fared about as well. Yet U.S. citizens must vote in this dark hour, if for no other reason than to keep Bush out of the White House. Soon-to-be ex-President Bush, to borrow from Bobby Kennedy's dead-on assessment of Richard Nixon, represents the "dark side of American politics." Bush has broken every promise he has ever made, involved the United States in two senseless conflicts with the mighty nations of Panama and Iraq and has had repeatedly about his role in the Iran-Contra scandal. The Republican's argument that Clinton lacks experience almost seems to work as a point in the Arkansas governor's favor.
It all fits, somehow.
KEVIN BARTELS
What! Did I just write that or did Al Gore? Any treacherous bastard that uttered those words ought to be
stoned to death for his own good. Slick Willie and Hille in the White House? Shall we trade four more years of the gang of vicious pimps and hacks now in power for four years of the "Beverly Willbillies"? Joseph De Maistre once said, "Every nation has the government that it deserves."
During Bush's whistle stop tour through the heartland, he has attempted to paint Clinton as a tax-and-spend liberal, while Clinton has retorted that Bush "can't count." And the candidates' nauseaet self-comparisons to Harry S. Truman have become even more prolific.
Casting aside the rhetoric, however, the choice is clear. Bush is an evil mutant and must not be allowed to continue in office. Despite horrific visions that Washington, D.C., will resemble an episode of the "Dukes of Hazard," a vote for Clinton is at least a vote for a fresh set of promises. Clinton says he loves the cute little spotten owl, and so do I, damn it. Screw all of those wicked fixers in the GOP with their talk of saving the logging industry. Where has all of that wood disappeared to, anyway? No doubt the wood has been made into toothpicks to be used by swine like Bush mouthpiece Marlin Fitzwater to pick his teeth after any fine meal of rain forest-fed beef.
Kevin Bartel is a Louisville, Ky., graduate student majoring in English.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Photo confusion was unintentional
This is a formal apology to KU fraternities, scholarship halls, Carl Wolfe Studios and the "Jayhawker" yearbook.
Earlier this fall, one of my employees sent out a letter to all fraternities and scholarship halls on our letterhead explaining that we are the official photographer of the "Jayhawker" yearbook That was incorrect. We were the official photographer two years ago. Carl Wolfe Studios is the official photographer
told.
Our employee was handed an old file with sample letters in it and told to line up a date and time to photograph each fraternity and scholarship hall on campus. Not understanding the scope of what we do or don't do, he patterned his letter after an old letter from several years back.
Luckily, we caught the error before anyone was photographed, so no organization's officers were misled before we offered any group pictures for sale to any of the groups' members. Carl Wolfe Studios does not photograph group pictures, but instead photographs individuals, and the photos are then assembled into a composite picture in the yearbook.
We were careless to have allowed this to happen, and I am truly sorry. We photographed groups for KU organizations for nearly 15 years, sometimes in conjunction with the yearbook and sometimes not. The employee simply did what he was
Thanks to all the organizations for their understanding.
Tony Schmidt Lawrence
KANSAN STAFF
ERIC NELSON
Editor
GREG FARMER
Managing editor
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
BILL SKEET Technology coordinator
Ast. Managing... Aimee Brainard
News... Alexander Bloemhoft
Editorial... Stephen Martino
Campus... Gayle Osterberg
Sports... Shelly Solon
Photo... Justin Knapp
Features... Cody Holt
Graphics... Sean Teixas
SCOTT HANNA
Business manager
BILLLEIBENGOO
Retail sales manager
JEANNE HINES
Sales and marketing adv
Business Staff
Business Staff
Campus sales mgr  Angela Cleveridge
Regional Sales mgr  Melissa T. Jip
National sales mgr  Brian Wx yen
Co-op sales mgr  Amy Stumbro
Production mgrs  Brad Bron
Kim Clxton
Marketing director  Ashley Langford
Creative director
Classified mgr  Judith Standley
Loco Locals
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GUEST COLUMNIST
JEN POLSON
Exhibitions by women erode their own rights
To some readers I probably make sense. Others probably think I am a bit conservative, and I understand and respect the opinions of others. To those of you that know me, I am sure you can all vouch for me when it comes down to having a good time I am the party coordinator. I love to drink, dance, laugh and party. But when it comes down to exposing myself in public or watching others bare all, that is just not what I am about.
Jen Polson is a Kansas City, Mo. senior majoring in communications.
For those of you who didn't see the Metallica and Guns and Roses concert at Arrowhead Stadium, you missed one heck of a halftime show.
I was revolted, not because I hadn't seen it before, but because I could never imagine showing everyone my body. I am not ashamed of my body — I just have enough moral fiber in me to keep my clothes on in public.
After Metallica played, everyone was anxiously waiting for Guns and Roses, and the promoters started filming people in the general admission section. There were two big video screens where everyone could see what was going on. The camera person started zooming in on women who were on the shoulders of other fans. They would keep the camera on them until the women would lift up their shirts baring their breasts to all. Not only did the audience get boobs, but a few women felt that taking down their pants was necessary also.
Call me a prude or what you wish, but I do have a number of reasons for feeling so strongly about this. Women have struggled for years to be treated as equal to men. Women are finally getting the career opportunities that my grandmother and mother did not get. During college they had just two choices, to be a teacher or a nurse. When women exhibit themselves in this way, it takes women back to the stereotype of being labeled sex objects. When women are perceived as mere sex objects, that is how they are treated.
One cannot tell me that when women lift up their shirts or take down their parts that some men don't get a bit horny. When women exhibit themselves, it just makes it easier for the men to think that she is asking for sexual contact and didn't want sexual contact then she wouldn't have lifted up her shirt.
The final reason I was offended by the exhibition was because I paid $35 for a ticket. I do not remember reading on the ticket, "Metallica, GNR and Boobs and Butts at Halftime." I think it is extremely unfair for the promoters to assume that everyone at the concert was going to enjoy that kind of entertainment. I spent 40 minutes walking around the stadium. I was not the only upset woman there.
The other reason this disgusts me is that not one of those women were arrested for indecent exposure. I would be willing to bet that if a man whipped his manliness out and started swinging it around, he would have been cuffed and escorted out of the stadium so fast people would have wondered what was going on.
By Tom Michaud
THIS KINDA MAKES YOU
THINK GOD WOULD WHAT
HE WAS DOING - WHEN HE
DIDN'T GIVE JOB A
COMPUTER...