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Friday, November 6, 1987 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Be specific
Dennis Howard has AIDS.
And now he must cope with losing his job in addition to the prospect of losing his life.
The animal pathologist at Kansas State University contends he was forced out of his tenured position after administrators and colleagues learned of his disease. A flurry of letters, medical leave forms and oral agreements has served to muddy the interpretation of K-State's AIDS policy.
His pledge highlights the stigma of AIDS and the need for employers to address the issue before it arises. Specifically.
K-State's AIDS policy stipulates that employees with AIDS, with AIDS-related complex or with a positive blood test for the AIDS antibody will be treated for all work-related purposes in the same manner as persons who develop other kinds of illnesses.
But the university's lawyer says the policy is flexible enough to accommodate the specific needs of employees' disabilities. That is, for instructors who use a wheelchair, counters and table-tops have been lowered.
But Howard's experiences illustrate the need for a specific AIDS policy. The policy would attack the stigma attached to AIDS. Specific and uniform guidelines would determine policy for instructors like Howard, whose work placed him in a laboratory.
A specific policy would set guidelines for food service workers with the virus. The policy would consider the safety of colleagues and students. It would outline sick leave and retirement guidelines. Confidentiality policy would also be established.
But the University of Kansas is not immune to AIDS dilemmas. A 25-member AIDS task force has been formed at KU to determine whether the University needs a specific AIDS policy. David Ambler, vice chancellor for student affairs, discounts the need for specific guidelines, saying, "We don't have a separate policy for measles. Measles is more contagious than AIDS."
But measles does not have a 100 percent fatality rate.
But measles does not have a 100 percent fatality rate. A specific AIDS policy would attack the stigma. It would quash hysteria. It would preclude misunderstandings that pit faculty against administrators.
And people like Dennis Howard would know what to expect.
All eyes will be on Russell next week.
Clean sweep
Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole will bring national attention to his hometown when he kicks off his presidential campaign Monday.
Filled with pride for its hometown boy, Russell is preparing for the occasion like proud parents prepare for their child's wedding.
With the day quickly approaching, a town project has begun. Crews are painting, polishing, sweeping and weeding to make the city shine. Residents of Russell also are setting the scene by painting a mural about life in Russell in the early 1900s.
The town suddenly has come alive. Unfortunately, it
Bob Dole
come drive. Otherwise, it has taken Dole kicking off his campaign to kick the town into action. Sweeping the streets, pulling weeds from along the highways and cleaning up should be normal town chores. The residents of Russell shouldn't be concerned only with improving the town for Dole and for the national media. They should do it for themselves.
This phenomenon, however, is not unique to Russell. Whenever a significant event is to take place in any town or city, the crusade to perfect the area begins.
Russell is going out of its way to impress Dole. He should remember that, Kansas is Dole's home. He chose to kick off his campaign here.
Kansas hasn't forgotten Dole. And if he gets to the Oval Office, Dole shouldn't forget Kansas.
Editorials in this column are the opinions of the editorial board.
News staff
Jennifer Benjamin...Editor
Jull Warren...Managing editor
John Benner...News editor
Beth Copeland...Editorial editor
Sally Streff...Campus editor
Brian Kaberline...Sports editor
Dan Freitimmann...Photo editor
Bill Skeet...Graphics editor
Tom Eblen...General manager, news adviser
Business staff
Bonnie J. Hardy ... Business manager
Robert Hughes ... Advertising manager
Kelly Scherer ... Retail sales manager
Kurt Messersmith ... Campus sales manager
Greg Knipp ... Production manager
David Dertelfelt ... National sales manager
Angela Clark ... Classified manager
Ron Weems ... Director of marketing
Jeanne Hines ... Sales and marketing adviser
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K. U.- K-STATE RIOT 1986
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Leaders implore post-game peace
Editor's note: Last year a riot after the KU-KState football game in Manhattan caused $100,000 in property damage and led to 22 arrests. The following is an open letter from Gene A. Budig, chancellor of the University of Kansas, and Jon Wefla, president of Kansas State University.
To the students of Kansas State University and the University of Kansas:
As president of Kansas State University and chancellor of the University of Kansas, we are concerned. The destructive behavior following the most recent football games with our two universities has projected a negative image of our students and, indeed, of our universities.
Establishing reputations for academic excellence takes many years of dedicated service by faculty, careful planning by administrators, commitment from resources from the state and contributions from alumni, both as students in the classroom and as citizens and professionals following graduation. Our two universities have worked to earn our
Gene A. Budig
Jon Wefald
begin their professional careers.
care in new situations, however, are fragile things. They can easily be damaged, as by the riots associated with the celebrations following our most
current reputation for excellence.
recent game in Manhattan Any repetition of that behavior would do further damage to our reputations and could conceivably handicap future graduates as they work to
None of us, students, faculty or administrators, can tolerate situations that jeopardize the personal safety and physical well-being of students and bystanders. We cannot condone actions that result in damage to personal property. We cannot stand by silently and allow a few irresponsible individuals to damage the reputations of two proud universities and their athletic programs.
Therefore, we ask the students of both our universities to work together so that the events of game day return to our traditional spirit of neighborly competitiveness and celebration. And as a result, his demonstrated through the years. It is the spirit that should be shown now.
Kansas State University and the University of Kansas are your universities. You have an important stake in ensuring that their reputations are maintained at the highest level.
We appreciate your support
Representation required
The Kansan has recently published letters from Prof. Moore, Librarian Mitchell and graduate student Lofgren critical in strident terms of the concern expressed by KU-National Education Association with respect to statements by Executive Vice Chancellor Ramaley on the forthcoming election for faculty representation. Emotive words were freely used in all of the letters: "nonsense," "workers," "bosses," "intimidation," "disgraceful," "scoundrels." And Vice Chancellor Ramaley was defended on the basis of her constitutional right to free speech.
The question of free speech was not the issue, of course — if it were, KU-NEA spokesman
Madden could also not be subject to criticism for exercising his own right. When Vice Chancellor Ramaley expresses herself on the advisability of formal faculty representation, it is inevitable, by virtue of the position that she holds, that her opinion will be seen as representative of the administration of the University. KU-NEA was properly sensitive to the question of whether the administration should be expressing an opinion on faculty representation shortly before the election. Perhaps it would have been more diplomatic had Vice Chancellor Ramaley chosen not to discuss the issue at this time.
faculty member at Kansas State University alleging wrongful dismissal from that university. A formal faculty representative body is essential if such cases are to be dealt with expeditiously and in a balanced manner. True, negotiations in such matters may involve an adversarial relationship, but it takes two parties to be adversarial. Let it not be forgotten that the administration at KU has always been in a position to pursue litigation. Why else are several attorneys employed in the office of the University General Counsel but to represent the question?
It may well be that if faculty chose to be represented by either AAUP or KU-NEA questions will arise that will require resolution through discussion between the University administration and the representative body or faculty. There is nothing wrong with this. Indeed, it will provide a path for exchange of views that is simply unavailable today. At present, decisions are handed down by the administration ex cathedra without opportunity for representative discussion.
However, more important to faculty and the University is the role a representative faculty body could take in presenting a faculty view of the mission of the University and how it can best be fulfilled in serving the needs of the state of Kansas. The contribution of faculty members with distinguished records of achievement such as Professor Moore will be invaluable in forming this most important voice of faculty.
Recently, the Kansan reported on the case of a
H Mcl Clark, associate professor of mechanical engineering
BLOOM COUNTY
by Berke Breathed