4 Friday, September 18, 1992 OPINION --- UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN IN OUR OPINION $100 deposit is needed option in fee payment The $100 deposit option offered in the mail-in fee payment procedure is a necessity for many students. However, the University has not been able to decide whether that option will be available to students next semester. The fact is, many students are not able to afford paying tuition prior to receiving financial aid. Just as the recession hurts a person's pocketbook, tuition hurts a student's bank account. Coming up with $899 for instate tuition or $2,985 for out-of-state tuition is difficult for a student living from paycheck to paycheck, even if a student is lucky enough to get mom and dad's help. The University originally intended the deposit option to be temporary because of the new payment procedure, but they will continue to research the option and debate whether to make it permanent. This fall, 484 students, or 12 percent of the 4,040 that used the deposit option, had financial aid packages. Many of these students did not have the aid at fee payment time and used the deposit option. Even if that changes, 3,556 is a large number of students who, for one reason or another, used the deposit option. The option saved them and their enrollment. University Council, Senex and Student Senate passed resolutions in favor of letting the committee in charge of the deposit option decide if the option should be permanent. As tuition continues to rise and incomes do not, students are going to have more problems coming up with money. It would be nice to know that an option is available to keep the classes needed to graduate as well as having an extra month to come up with the money. THE EDITORIAL BOARD LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Kansan runs ad despite policy In Tuesday's, Kansan's statement at the beginning of the classified advertisement section declared that "The Kansan will not knowingly accept any advertisement that discriminates against any person or group of persons based on race, sex, age, color, creed, religion, sexual preference, nationality or disability." However, in that same issue, you printed an advertisement for the Army National Guard, a group that, to my knowledge, does not accept homosexuals. Does this policy not include advertisers such as the Department of Defense, which donates large amounts of money to the University? Sean Riley Prairie Village senior Don't expect media to be fair In David Frankel's column Tuesday, he clumsily bashes what he calls "the liberal media." Frankel lists two examples: "NBC Nightly News" reporter, Fred Francis, and two, Rolling Stone magazine. One of his examples of "the liberal media" is a person, a small representation of the media. The other is a newspaper or liberal magazine. What does he expect? I suppose it would be nice if there could be totally unbiased reporting. But every person that lives has an audience and the media are made up of people. Finally, Frankel, in his penultimate paragraph, acknowledges that there is a conservative press. This is followed by a paragraph crying out again for an end to biased reporting. Lisa Cosmillo There are a number of different publications and television stations in this country, each with their own slant. We, as thoughtful consumers, can always take the initiative and not buy a particular paper, or even change the channel. Lawrence graduate student Media bias is unavoidable David Frankel's column on media bias was very topical in that it attacked the media elite and liberal journalists for practicing unfair and biased journalism. He concludes by challenging us all to ensure that both sides are heard and that an unbiased media truthfully informs the people. Unfortunately, Frankel's stirring words do not hide the fact that he bases his conclusion on two very questionable assumptions. He assumes that both sides are not being heard. Frankel must be the only one who hasn't heard of Bill Clinton's campaign, non-inhalation, and draft evasion. By calling for the institution of an unbiased media, Frankel assumes that such a thing is both possible and beneficial. It is neither. The First Amendment protects free speech and helps to ensure a press free of external constraint. While freedom from bias sounds reasonable, the enforcement of Frankel's "unbiased media" ideal would result in the loss of both freedoms for everyone in the media, even Kansan staff columnists. Jason McClure Silver Lake senior Ever wonder if it would be the same as in a female rape trial? Vigilantes inspire student to take the highways into her own hands STAFF COLUMNIST Last weekend I read a story that said vigilante-style justice is on the rise in Kansas City. Mo. Included in the story was Dixie Bysor, a resident of Midtown Kansas City, who last spring opened fire on a prostitute and her customer who had been conducting "business" in a car on Bysor's street. Bysor's story caused me to stop and think. I've never lived in a crime-infested neighborhood. The worst thing I can remember happening in the neighborhood I grew up in is someone poisoning my friend's dog. But that didn't prompt anyone to start handguns; it just meant that邻居hood dogs got to spend less time outside for a while. Bysor said that prostitution and drug dealing had been plaguing her neighborhood for years. Her neighbors said that because it seemed that police could not keep crime out of the area, they had no choice to combat it themselves. So when Bysor was charged with assault and armed criminal action recently, many protests were heard. Because I have no idea what it's like to witness illegal activities on my street every day, I decided to try to relate vigilante justice to a situation I could empathize with. And I found a good one. JULIE WASSON It is impossible to make a trip to Springfield without encountering at least one of these drivers, even if you go at 3 a.m. Believe me. I've tried. The drive between Lawrence and my hometown, Springfield, Mo., is two-lane highway for about three-fourths of the trip. And on those highways you will find the only people who could ever propel me to vigilante status. I'm talking about people who drive so poorly they have no business driving to begin with. For some incomprehensible reason, two lane highways seem to attract these drivers more than any other type of thoroughfare. Were it not for the fact that everything I'm about to suggest is currently being used, would you still care? qualms with taking it upon myself to discurse these bad drivers' habits For example, let's talk about people who drive cars with break lights that don't work. They're bad enough in the city. But on a two-lane highway, when you're going at least 55 mph, these light-free menaces are more than annoying; they are life threatening. Wouldn't it be great to take a crowbar to the back end of cars with no break lights? That way, the police would be sure that the brake lights were out, even if the car was parked, and they could then ticket the offender. Then there are people who pass on a crowded two-lane highway when they don't have enough room to pass safely. Everyone behind them has to slam on their brakes just so the impatient little speed demons can get one car ahead of where they were. I think it would be nice to shoot out the back tires on cars like this. I wouldn't want these people to wreck and die. But would it be so bad if they wrecked just enough to really bend up their cars? I think not. And they could consider the error of their ways while waiting for the tow truck. But the very worst drivers are the ones who want to turn right in front of you onto the highway. You can be driving along with no one behind you for at least 16 miles, but for some reason, these people choose to pull out just as you are about to drive past them. I can't count the number of times I've had to hit the brakes and pray because some idiot couldn't wait three more seconds for me to drive by. I firmly believe that these drivers should be forced to pay me for wear and tear on my brakes and tires. Their cars should be permanently impounded. And they should be subjected to a lecture on the physics of suddenly decreasing your speed by 50 mph. Unless, of course, they're interested in physics. These are situations in which I can understand vigilant justice. I know they are not serious, like the problems Bysor and her neighbors face. But the underlying principle is the same. Even though I sometimes wish early death on such wilted drivers, I know it is best that I'm not allowed to blow up their cars. Law enforcement officials are busy enough already. They do not need normally law-abiding citizens taking up arms to add to their troubles. Julie Wasson is a Springfield, Mo. senior majoring in political science and journalism. Commissioner candidate has the right credentials RE: Your Search Gentlemen: I would like to offer my services to you in the capacity of commissioner of Major League Baseball. I think that you will find me not only eminently qualified but also possessing the perfect character for the job. TO: Major League Baseball Commissioner Search Committee First, my qualifications. I played Littled League for a number of years, so I know the game on the intimate level that only those who have played can I can empathize with hitting shumps, fielding errors and wild pitches as well as anyone in the United States; I wasn't a very good player. I believe that because of this experience, the players will accept me with open arms as one who understands their MARK COATNEY special needs. Second, I spent a couple of summers working as a Little League umpire. As a result, I know how very spoiled baseball players are, how they need to be disciplined constantly and how to put them in their prima-donna places. Thus, the umpires of the league will accept me with open arms as one who understands their special needs. Third, I have a bachelor's degree in English. I have read "The Natural" twice. I've seen "Field of Dreams" three times. I am familiar with works as banal as "Frank Merriwell's Schooldays," as obscure as "The Universal Baseball Association, J. Henry Waugh, Prop." and as pretentious as some of George Will's columns. I know my baseball lit. Plus, I look good in tweed jackets. I can even exude a professional air. Thus, the media will accept me with open arms as one who understands their special needs. Finally, the character question. Because I will soon graduate and really need a job, I am perfectly willing to be the lap dog commissioner that you owners have wanted since the first commissioner of baseball, Kesawan Mountain Landis, took over your league. I will be perfectly happy to collect my six-ficture salary, go to baseball games all over the country and wax poetic on the art of the suicide squeeze. I can keep my mouth shut. I won't say a word about the needed realignment of divisions, the need to control superstations, the wildly escalating costs and increasing owner stupidity that have eroded the fan base and threatened the survival of the game itself. Unlike Pay Vincent, Peter Uberroth and even Bowie Kuhn, I know a good thing when I see one. Thus, the owners of the league will accept me with open arms as one who understands their special needs. That's what you want. Isn' Mark Coatney is a Linwood graduate student majoring in political science KANSAN STAFF ERICNELSON Editor GREG FARMER Managing editor TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser BILL SKEET, Technology coordinato. astat. Managing...Almee Braniante News...Alexander Bloemhoof Editorial...Stephen Martino Campus...Gayle Osterberg Sports...Shelly Solon Photo...Justin Krupp Features...Cody Holt Graphics...Sean Tevis SCOTT HANNA Business manager BILL LEIBENGOOD Retail sales manager JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser Business Staff Campus sales mgr Angela Cleverger Regional sales mgr Melissa Teraff Co-op sales mgr Amy Stumbo Production mgrs Brad Bron Kim Claxton Marketing director Ashley Langford Creative director Classified mgr Judith Standley By Tom Michaud **Letters** should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 200 words. They must include the name of the university where you will be affiliated. Written affiliated with the University of Kaiser must include home and school, or faculty. The guest letters should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be responsible for the right to reedit or edit letters, guest letters and cartoons. They can be written by someone other than the author. Loco Locals