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Thursday. September 17, 1992
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
IN OUR OPINION
Kansan editorial board explains its operations
Consider the source is an old adage. This line is usually quipped by sympathetic observers to the recipients of unwarranted insults. But the
Consider the source is an old adage. This life is usually quipped by sympathetic observers to the recipients of unwarranted insults. But the significance of this saying also extends to journalism. A person who considers the source acknowledges the importance of the messenger before evaluating any message. Journalists, trained to check references and sources, try to live by this creed. But it is a good rule of thumb for everyone.
Readers of the University Daily Kansan should know how the editorials develop. The Kansan editorial board, which is made up of more than a dozen members who represent different campus interests, meets twice a week to discuss issues and ideas. Ideas are solicited from the board members, which glean these ideas from campus events and various news sources. Writers are encouraged to support their positions with statistics from various sources.
If a majority of the board agrees on an idea, the editorial is written. But if the supporter of an idea fails to persuade the majority about the worthiness of an editorial, it won't be seen here. However, it may appear in a column. Although this collective group attempts to compensate for potential imbalances, it operates through the ideological filters of its constituents. All members come with firm beliefs and differing experiences. Like anyone else, the editorial board cannot separate itself from prior knowledge, nor should it.
According to the Los Angeles Times, if an editorial board is a representative sampling of professional journalists, 25 percent support prayer in the public schools, 89 percent support legal abortion, 89 percent support gay rights in employment and 47 percent support the death penalty for murder. This is in comparison to the general public where 74 percent support prayer in the public schools, 51 percent support legal abortion, 56 percent support gay rights in employment and 74 percent support the death penalty for murder. As a group, journalists lean toward the political left.
Such statistics represent the crucial role of critical, active readers. No newspaper fails to stress enough the vital role of letters to the editor and guest columns. Readers can check and balance perspectives and views; readers can add information and opinions. As journalists who believe in the necessity of balance and the importance of pluralism, we try to print as many reader letters as possible, even ones that strongly disagree with us. Everything on the editorial page does not reflect the opinions of the editorial staff.
Obviously, there is overt subjectivity on the editorial page. Writers, individually or collaboratively, take positions, develop arguments, and give their inside version of a story. But does that mean that subjectivity does not exist on the other pages of the newspaper? Though attempts are made to avoid subjectivity, it's impossible to do so because the news you receive is ideologically filtered by the people who present it.
Consider whether you are more likely to read a story that appears on the front page or the second. Consider whether you care more about an event before or after it happens. Remember that what is left out is often as important as what is put in.
Even photographs cannot escape subjectivity. Camera angle, focal length, cropping, color, size, placement and captions all factor into how you receive the image. This information emphasizes the importance of considering the source.
So we'll continue striving to be critical writers — critical of ourselves as well as our sources. And we trust that you will continue to respond as critical readers.
ANN JURCYK FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Power-hungry Bush will do anything to get re-elected
The fear of a loss of power can do strange things to a person who has hitherto wielded it. Much in the same way salt will cause a slug to write and shudder in an ecstasy of pain, a politician will froth at the mouth and begin to promise anything to retain that ultimately satisfying feeling of being able to call down fire and destruction on anyone they wish.
STAFF COLUMNIST
George Herbert Walker Bush, his face drawn and haggard, breath foul, and hands trembling from too much late-night night wringing, has been trying to beg, borrow, steal or bribe the hapless voter into re-electing him as the most powerful man in the world. His latest scheme is to become a sort of patronic Santa Claus handing out dollops of economic aid to certain key voting blocks. Recently, Santa Bush approved a $6 billion fighter-jet sale to Taiwan — jets that are made in Texas — and violated a standing administration policy regarding the sale of arms to China and its political rivals. By approving the sale of the jets, Bush effectively torpedoed months of careful diplomatic negotiations with China and erased whatever progress his administration had made.
However, to a man in the throes of a terminal fear of becoming a former President, such considerations are irrelevant. Bush would sacrifice anything or anyone in order to retain his
KEVIN BARTELS
hold on the presidency, including Danny Boy, Barbara or even his beloved dog, Millie. The top wizards for the Bush campaign have apparently figured out that "Read my lips" promises are not enough because Bush is unable to keep them, and they have begun to trade jobs for votes.
Clearly, the man is desperate.
During the Republican Convention in August, Bush jabbered wildly about the horror of a "rubber-check Congress" and a rubber-stamp President to an audience of cheering supporters who applauded every word of an almost non-stop stream of gibberish. What Bush was actually promising the assembled forces of Republicanism was "FOUR MORE YEARS" of gridlock between himself and Congress and the resulting slow and agonizing strangulation of the democratic process. Perhaps surprise at pork-barrel politics from a swine such as Bush seems naive, but it
makes it no more palatable. What is truly nauseating about Bush's 1992 campaign is his Nixon-like shamelessness. He has no compunction about using his political influence to retain his hold on the presidency. In fact, he seems proud of his ability to buy votes.
Closer to home, Bush has recently announced the sale of fighter jets, made in St. Louis, Mo., to Saudi Arabia, thereby straining diplomatic relations with Israel. Bush continues to buy votes he cannot otherwise obtain. Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton lacks such a remarkable method for securing voter support. To be fair, Clinton should be allowed to hand out whiskey and dollar bills to prospective November voters.
The Lord Acton truism that states that "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely" becomes clearer and clearer with every word and deed of George Bush. Bush's stint for the presidency enables him to disregard even his own policies in order to win in November. And in the race for president — a race as naked as a gun for power as any display of lust by a bull elk in the nut — all swine are equal. But some swine are more equal than others.
Kevin Bartel is a Louisville, Ky., graduate student majoring in English.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Clinton is worthy of the presidency
Kevin Bartel's Sept. 9 editoria concerning the presidential campaign was offensive and disturbing
We've bolted to seep into the presidential campaign was offensive and disturbing. His editorial was offensive because of its snide and cynical tone. Bartels thinks that both candidates are evil and that the only question facing the American voter is which is worse?" Such sneering pessimism is hip nowadays, a cheap excuse for believing in nothing and
voting for nobody. Personally, I support Bill Clinton with enthusiasm (not resignation), and if Mr. Bartels or anyone else of his ilk thinks this is naive, fine. Replace your head in the sand and allow the rest of us to participate in the political process unmoiled.
Bartels' editorial was disturbing because of his distortions concerning Clinton's campaign. His argument that Clinton shouldn't be president because he has had no experience with hurricanes is too silly to merit rebuttal. His assertion
that "Clinton's economic plans are of precious little substance" is demonstrably untrue Clinton has elaborated in detail his ideas about what he wants to do and where he wants to go. Read his book. Read any one of a number of articles in *The New Republic*. Watch the town meetings on C-Span. Put a little work into your election decision, and you will find that Clinton is far from vague.
Brian Dirck Graduate student, Conway, Ark.
KATE KELLEY
Overplayed songs lead to societal breakdown
Commuting to and from school every day as I do, I spend an inordinate amount of time in my car. As it is difficult to read or write while driving — believe me, I've tried — I spend far too much of my traveling time listening to the radio. A consequence of this is that I'm becoming a menace to the highways as I attempt to steer and dive for the station buttons on my radio every five minutes to avoid hearing many of the songs that have suffered from severe overplay by radio stations.
Probably the very worst victims of this are Genesis, Phil Collins, and Mike and the Mechanics, which are basically three different names for the same people. I have five stations preset on my car radio. At any given moment, a Genesis/Collins/Mechanics' song is playing on at least one of them. I used to kind of like these guys. Their sound isn't actually bad. But it's sort of like a cricket chirping at night. For a little while, you find it a calming sound of nature. After hours and hours of it, you become a screaming lunatic, running around your house with a shoe to pulverize the source of the torturing noise.
Madonna music is also played far too often. Of course, playing her stuff even once is too often for me. I never really noticed any talent she may have, except for being able to keep herself in the public eye for so long. She does this by appearing semide, or more recently, totally nude. It has to end soon. She has done just about everything, although I don't believe we've seen her with sheep yet.
Garth Brooks should get a rest. He is another whose musical talent I fail to appreciate. I must admit, I have never been a country music fan. I wouldn't mind if country stations played Garth Brooks all day. But it is his invasion onto the rock music airwaves that has me perplexed. Why? And why so often?
Certain individual songs are driving me nuts, too. The Beach Boys "Kokomo" should be shelved indefinitely. Harry Chapin's "Cat's in the Cradle" must be the longest, most depressing song ever recorded. I don't need to hear that after spending an entire day away from my family, knowing I will have to spend the evening with my nose in my books. And if I have to hear Hammer's "Addams Family Groove" one more time, I just might drive my car into a tree!
There are a couple of songs that I would like to hear more of. James Taylor's "Up on the Roof" and the Little River Band's "Cool Change" are absolutely the best songs for mellowing out after a long, stressful day in classes. Midterm and final periods should be peak playing seasons for these two songs.
I sometimes think when I hear of perfectly normal people suddenly going berserk and shooting up a post office or something that maybe it wasn't really pent-up frustration with bureaucracy that drove them over the edge. Maybe they heard Phil Collins whine "I can't dance" one too many times.
Kate Kelley Is a Fort Leavenworth Junior majoring in English.
KANSAN STAFF
ERIC NELSON
Editor
GREG FARMER
Managing editor
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
BILL SKEET, Technology coordinator
Editors
Asst. Managing ... Almee Brannard
News ... Alexander Blohmhoft
Editorial ... Stephen Martino
Cumulative ... Gayle Otterberg
Sports ... Shelly Salon
Photo ... Justin Knupp
Features ... Cody Holt
Graphics ... Sean Tevls
SCOTT HANNA
Business manager
BILLLEIBENGOOD
Retail sales manager
JEANNE HINES
Sales and marketing adviser
Business Staff
Business Staff
Campus sales ... Angela Clenger
Regional sales mgrs ... Melissa Terkil
National sales mgrs ... Brian Wilkes
Co-op sales mgrs ... Amy Stumbro
Production mgrs ... Brad Broon
Marketing director ... Kim Clxton
Creative director ... Valerie Spicher
Classified mgrs ... 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.
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