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Friday, September 25, 1987 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
White House pressure
One year ago, many United States corporations began putting serious economic pressure on South Africa through disinvestment — pulling entire companies out of the country. Unfortunately, the sanctions have been mostly a disappointment rather than a threat to the apartheid regime.
Even worse, the sanctions have seemed to critically damage the economic status of many blacks and the headway they were making in upper-level management positions.
U. S. companies such as General Motors, Ford, IBM and Exxon had profitable businesses in South Africa, while many blacks were obtaining clout in the economic system through strong unions and management positions.
But as the U.S. companies began to pull out because of pressure at home, some of the businesses regrouped and dropped their integration policies.
Is disinvestment from a handful of U.S. companies worth the hardship blacks must endure?
A more important need is for the White House to take the sanctions seriously and press for political and economic pressure. The white rulers must understand that the United States means business and that the pressure must not only come from corporations but from the nation as a whole.
Isn't it time a democratic government like the U.S. actively denounced a system so appalling to its beliefs?
Buy and fly
Has Dole gone bananas?
Controversy has arisen over Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole's campaign finances, though it is more a question of propriety than legality. Nevertheless, it appears that the affair may damage his standing with some voters.
Virtually all of Dole's transportation during his presidential bid has been via private corporate jets, provided by companies and individuals who support his candidacy. This itself is not a violation of Federal Election Commission rules; Dole is required to pay the equivalent of first-class commercial air fair for each trip.
The cost of such trips, however, is much greater than what Dole pays. In essence, he is receiving extraordinary benefits not available to all candidates, and the additional cost does not count toward the spending limits imposed by the FEC. It is as though Dole's campaign is allowed to spend more than those of his rivals.
This is unfair.
While it is Dole's right to travel by private jet, it is unquestionably a contribution to the Kansas senator's campaign and should be treated as such with regard to campaign expense rules.
It would be easy to dismiss this affair if Dole had not tried to thwart efforts to reconsider the spending guidelines that favor him. He voted against proposals that would have ended a Republican filibuster and brought campaign expense issues before his peers.
This was a vote for his own interests and against fair campaign rules.
Crowned beauty
Once again, we've crowned a new Miss America. There she is, folks: take a good look — that's what she's there for.
Of course, sponsors of the Miss America pageant say she is there to win valuable scholarship money. The pageant does award more than $5.5 million annually in scholarship money to more than 80,000 women on the national, state and local levels. But the method of awarding these scholarships is outdated and sexist.
The competition is a beauty pageant. If it is going to continue to support the old-fashioned idea of women as beauty objects, so be it. But it should not masquerade as a scholarship pageant.
The new Miss America, Kaye Lani Rae Rafka, is a registered nurse and plans to obtain a master's degree in oncology and hematology. But what does her appearance in a bathing suit have to do with her academic ability? For her talent, she hula danced in a midriff-baring costume. Hula dancing and a bare stomach have no place in a competition for an academic scholarship. Talent scholarships are awarded, but these too should not be combined with parading down a runway.
Award scholarships based on merit to those who so deserve. A beauty pageant is not the forum to reward intelligence and talent.
Editorials in this column are the opinions of the editorial board.
News staff
Jennifer Benjamin ... Editor
Jull Warren ... Managing editor
John Benner ... News editor
Bath Coopland ... Editorial editor
Billy Streff ... Campus editor
Brian Kaberline ... Sports editor
Dan Ruettlmann ... 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 Messermith ... Campus sales manager
Greg Knipp ... Production manager
David Derfelt ... National sales manager
Angela Griffin ... Classified
Ron Weems ... Director of marketing
Jeanne Hines ... Sales and marketing adviser
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Pictures depict Biden's demise
O. K. THIS is the Iowa campaign speech, and THIS is a transcript of Bork's confirmation testimony. Make sure the senator doesn't get them mixed up.
Contradiction of terms
When I chose to attend the University of Kansas, I did so because of the fine academic programs the University has.
I found that most of the programs are top-rate except for the University's SIMPL math programs.
The University's Self Instructed Mastery Plan math program is an example of what happens when the faculty's arrogance gets in the way of the students' quest for knowledge.
Theoretically, the student is given a chapter to study. The student then studies on his own. If the student has a problem with the chapter, there are tutors and lectures to help "guide" the student.
...practice, however, the SIMPL program is ineffective. This is because the faculty obviously feels above teaching the students. Instead, the student is left alone, with nothing but an old textbook, a test schedule and a prayer — not a book, a journal or a "tutoring" available, if you consider tutoring to be two teaching assistants in a classroom with 30 confused people. The only thing more pathetic
than the SIMPL program is the attempts of the students to learn in this fashion.
In other words, the KU's SIMPL math program is a conflict of terms.
William G. Belden, Colby freshman.
Cosmetic class
Now don't get me wrong. I'm really all for a tougher admissions policy for Kansas high school students. And I think that it's a really good thing that the student advisory committee to the Regents has gotten together their own proposal to propose to the Regents. But I simply cannot stand idly by after reading the article in the Sept. 17 Kansan. They have three items they propose. The first two make perfect sense. I agree totally that they need years of English, math, science and social studies or college-level summer courses with a 2.0 grade point average.
But to require them to take make-up courses is just plain ridiculous. I don't care whether the make-up courses are high school or college level. I mean, sure, we should all be up on personal hygiene and everything, but I think forcing a class on high school students is just very unnecessary. Look at me. I'm a second-year graduate student, and I made it just fine without any make-up courses. I hardly ever even wear any make-up. Well, maybe occasionally on a weekend, but it's nothing I couldn't handle myself. I don't need any course on it.
I'm all for this new liberal attitude and everything, but maybe it would be much wiser
to just require this course for incoming freshmen girls. It could be very beneficial for them, especially with this new fall rush and all. We could just recommend it for guys. After all, we could all use a helpful hint. But to require it just doesn't seem right.
Mark von Schlemmer, Leavenworth graduate student
I am writing to express my deep concern over the disastrous street in Stouffer Place. There are several big holes starting at the entrance of Stouffer Place and going up to the office.
I called Parking Services about fixing it and they told me to call the Department of Facilities Operations. They in turn told me to call the Student Housing Office. The Housing Office told me they did not know who was in charge of fixing the Stouffer Place street.
Rough road
I have almost hit a child and two cars at
daily times when I have been trying to avoid
the blaze here.
I hope somebody who is responsible for fixing the street in Stouffer Place will read this grievance and see to it that some action is taken before a tragedy occurs. By the way, this poor condition in Stouffer Place has existed since last summer.
BLOOM COUNTY
Rashid Malik, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Ph.D. student
by Berke Breathe