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Tuesday, September 1, 1992
OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
IN OUR OPINION
Students should rely on education, not athletics
The $32.5 million contract extension that was handed to Cal Ripken Jr.last week was absolutely should. It is quite disappointing to see a per
asburd. It is quite disheartening to see a person paid $32 million to swing a bat when typical college students spend thousands of dollars to enhance their chances of finding normal jobs.
Students spend years trying to ensure their marketability so that when they reach the workplace they can make a comfortable living. Athletes who are fortunate enough to "make the cut" are endowed with abilities to catch or throw a ball, thus entertaining millions of people. But are they really worth more money than a teacher or any other honorable but less praised worker?
Of course, athletes do bring in revenue for their respective teams, but when will it ever be enough? Last month, Boston Red Sox's millionaire Jack Clark declared bankruptcy. Clark owned 18 automobiles. Why?
It is sad to look at the United States and see children wishing to be "like Mike" while throwing away their chance to get a good education. It is very misleading for commercials to use Michael Jordan to tell kids to stay in school.
What adolescents fail to understand is that only a small group of talented individuals can make millions of dollars in sports. In fact, most athletes spend their lives unsuccessfully trying to make it in the professional arena. Many of them have thrown away a free college education. If these athletes fail to make the team, they are left with nothing but an incomplete education. Although playing sports is glamorous, education should be the primary goal of all athletes. With a diploma in hand, athletes should chase their dreams. Then, if the chance to compete falls through, the athlete can still rely on his education.
JEFF SHAW FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD.
Anti-abortion feminists are not the exception
In view of the recent Women's Equality Rally at South Park, it is important to remind ourselves that not all feminists equate abortion rights with equality. Although the National Organization of Women and Planned Parenthood assert that they represent those who advocate women's rights, they are ignoring the fact that feminist anti-abortion organizations also exist. Not merely exist, but the 1.5 million membership of the National Women's Coalition for Life dwarfs the 280,000 membership of NOW.
Building on a strong vein of feminist thought in the United States, the NWCL believes that abortion contributes to the exploitation of women.
Statistics released by Planned Parenthood indicate that 40 percent of the 4,400 abortions that are performed daily are repeat abortions, and only 2 to 3 percent of abortions are performed to save the life of the mother or because of incest or rape. Looking at these statistics, the NWCL does not believe that the abortion debate is really a question of so-called reproductive rights. But with abortion legal until the time of birth, there is another human right to consider. As feminists who traditionally advocate the rights of the marginally silenced, they believe that theirs is a voice that equally deserves to be heard.
ANN JURCYK FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD.
Television programming keeps degenerating towards the inane
As I watched the Emmy awards the other night, I was reminded — much to my surprise — that there are actually still a few programs worth watching on television. Unfortunately, I, too, had been unable to watch days. There is no time for prtime days.
On a nice day in my childhood, the kind when parents try to throw you out of the house on the premise that the sun is shining and the birds are singing — like I cared, I could be found inside watching sitcoms, cartoons and lots of them. Of course, this was before kidcartoons got ... I'll come right out and say it. Smurfy.
ASSOC. EDITORIAL
No, television just is not what it used
T. admit I still watch "Murphy's
Brown"
There's nothing like a good "Seinfield" episode to make you think. What IS the deal with Grape Nuts? You open the box, no grape no nuts.
But most of the prime-time stuff is fluff. How many "Melrose Place," twentysomething shows do I need acted out by thirtysomething actors? As if"002101" college-aged cast playing high school kids wasn't bad enough. Hey, I am a college student. I don't need to go home and hear some
DAVID MITCHELL
snobby, rich kid bitch about the young-adult experience. I'm living it,babe.
Now we're being assaulted by "Freshman Dorm. Or" is it first year student dorm? Can we get a consensus here? At least "Head of the Class" finally died. It had to when Arvid started drawing Social Security.
So, with work, homework and the crap being offered, my TV viewing has receded into late night. And even that is degenerating. Carson is gone and Jay Leno is no Johnny. Dennis Miller lasted less than a year. And Arsenio is now 56. So I can that many guests be that interesting? No. They can't. At least Dave Let-
ternan is up front when his guests are duuds.
But I still have "M*A*S*H" returns. Or do I? KMCB Channel 9 used to offer "M*A*S*H" twice a night. After all, the show ran for 11 seasons — never mind that the Korean War lasted just three years. There are hundreds of episodes. But in an inspired move, Channel 9 dumped the 11 p.m. "M*A*S*H" in favor of "The Golden Girls." After all, senior citizens are notorious for staying up late to watch reruns of bad sitcoms. As Seinfeld would say, "Who is the marketing wizard that came up with this?"
Of course, bear in mind that this is the same station that refers to itself as the best newscast in Missouri, even though it won that award two years ago. It was bad enough when I had to sit through "Cosby" to get to "M*A*S*H," but now I have to endure these four old bags as well.
I think "Stop, or My Mom Will Shoot" should have proven Estelle Getty's acting prowess. And Rue McClanahan. What could possibly be more pathetic than a 50-year-old tramp? Someone ought to introduce this woman to Woody Allen. "The Golden
Girls" have left prime time, but their feebleminded fans need not fear, the geriatric genre is being recarcinated as "Golden Palace" this fall. Three old hags in a hotel. What a hoop.
My passion for "M*A*S*H" was such that I was even willing to sit through the Channel 9 news. This, the newscast from hell. Could Brian Busy please waste more of my time with his tales of the Kansas City symphony and bad jokes? And could Larry Moore please get in another plug for the Dream Factory in the next five minutes? Don't even get me started on ex-jack, anchor, car salesman, bar owner Len Dawson. I know it's blasphemy to say anything negative about Lenny within earshot of Kansas City, but this man knows nothing about baseball, basketball or journalism.
So, will I watch Channel 9 anymore? "M*A*S*H" of course. As for the rest, Hawkeye said it best. "I can take umbrage, I can take the cake, I can take the A-train. I can take two and call me in the morning, but I cannot take this sitting down."
David Mitchell is a DeSoto senior majoring in journalism.
Freshman dispute obscures real issues
I would like to quash this freshman/first-year-student dilemma before it goes out of hand here at KU. I am referring to the policy on Nebraska Wesleyan University of no longer using the term freshman to indicate first year students, as it may be construed as gender limiting.
If you have nothing else in your life to be offended by than being called a freshman, even if you are not a man, you need to find a purpose for your life.
There are real injustices in the world. Certain jobs are still unavailable to people because of their gender, race or sexual orientation.
People are persecuted and wars are fought because of religion. People are starving. Innocent children are shot on buses.
Millions are infected with AIDS through the carelessness of themselves and others.
Crazed despots in hostile countries
KATE KELLEY
And here, in the heartland of America, people are worried about being called freshmen.
are building nuclear weapons that could blow us all away.
I have a friend whose last name is Johnson. Her father's name is not John, and she's certainly nobody's son. But this has never, for even one day of her life, made her feel less of a human being. Upon hearing the name
Johnson, no one ever expects the bearer to be a male descendant of anyone with the name of John. It is just a name. It links her to her family members, who are also Johnson.s. It gives her a sense of kinship to millions of far-distant relatives and nonrelatives all over the world who are also named Johnson, half of which are really daughters or wives.
Freshmen is the same kind of thing. The term does not imply males who have been newly baked this morning. It simply means first year students in any high school, college or university in the entire country. That's it. There is no hidden plot to subvert a gender. It is just a name.
This is another outrageous example of political correctness taken to extremes. When we do this, we risk losing the effectiveness of the terms that really need to be used with sensitivity.
I never bought into the "womyn"
title either. I am no more a "myn" than a "man," or a "wo" for that matter. Actually, man is a shortened form of human, which indicates both male and female of our species. Do we begin to say "huwman," or possibly the more inane, "hwumyn?" This is silliness that detracts from more serious feminist issues such as jobs, pay and legislative empowerment.
This whole argument is like a city commission quibbling over the use of the word personhole cover as opposed to manhole cover, while the rest of the population suffers severe damage driving over the uncovered holes. No one cares what you call, them as long as they are there. I think most freshmen feel the same way.
Call me a radical, but I will continue to call freshmen "freshmen," women, "women," and Johnsons "Johnson."
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
Asst. Managing ... Almee Bralrain
News ... Alexander Bloemhoft
Editorial ... Stephen Martino
Campus ... Gaye Osterberg
Sports ... Shadly Solon
Photo ... Justin Knupp
Features ... Cody Holt
Graphics ... Sean Tevis / Michael Ries
SCOTTHANNAN
Business manager
BILL LEIBENGOOD
Retail sales manager
JEANNE HINES
Sales and marketing adviser
Business Staff
Business Staff
Campus sales mgr. Alexandra Gwloege
Regional sales mgr. Melissa Terkil
National sales mgr. Brian Wilkes
Co-op sales mgr. Amy Stumbo
Production mgr. Brad Reason
Kim Claxton
Marketing director. Ashley Langford
Creative director.
Classified mgr. Judith Standluyd
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by David Rosenfield