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University Dailv Kansan, November 15, 1982
Opinion
An opportunity missed
Funeral plans for Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev barely had been made last week when the Kremlin announced that Yuri Andropov, former head of the KGB, would be his successor.
Brezhnev's death could have been predicted months ago, but that does not downplay the significance of the event for Americans.
The death and the swift reshuffling of power in the Soviet Union have put the future of U.S.-Soviet relations in question. We are trying figure out what, if any, new conflicts Andropov will create.
At such a sensitive time in the relations between the two countries, a little effort on the part of the United
States to build a friendship with the new leaders could go a long way.
Given the importance of the event, it is surprising that President Reagan has chosen not to attend today's funeral in Moscow.
As the New York Times said Sunday, Reagan showed no sense of history by choosing to stay at home.
"The personable Ronald Reagan, whose manner humanizes his doctrines, could be as effective on Soviet television as Nikita Khrushchev once was here." the paper said.
The "Great Communicator," as Reagan has billed himself, is missing a prime opportunity for a little international public relations work, not only with the new party boss, but with the Soviet people as well.
Election merits closer look
The student body presidential and vicepresidential elections are Wednesday and Thursday. But if past elections are any indication, barely 10 percent of the 25,000 students at the University of Kansas will care enough to vote.
Low voter turnout for student elections is nothing new. This low turnout puts the valid-
The issues this time around — problems of missing Student Senate equipment, theft of equipment, and more — are not new.
Despite the importance of these issues, it is doubtful that there will be a significant jump in training costs.
erment's responsiveness to the needs of the students — may seem familiar. In fact, some of them have been debated in past campaings.
Coalitions' campaigns are 'slick' promotions
The Kansan, in an effort to improve communication between the voters and the candidates, has turned over most of today's opinion polls. The shift of the Consensus and Momentum coalitions.
No longer are the bulletin boards in Wescoe cafeteria and other student gathering spots filled with empty envelopes.
It's Student Senate election time at the University of Kansas and a new swarm of posters has invaded any white space on bulletin boards throughout campus.
In the past these posters were often ugly, relying only on repetition to grab the passerbys' attention. But this year's elections are different in this, as well as other, respects.
The slick, 16-by-20 posters for the Momentum coalition picture Kevin Walker, Webster Groves, Mo., junior and David Teopteon, British Columbia, Canada, junior. They look like little
TOM HUTTON
U. S. Congressmen in their slickly produced poster — which is what this election seems to be turning into, a battle over the slickest campaign.
The strongest opposing coalition, Consolesh, also spared little in its rendition of its goals to take control of the White House. Lau Ashley, Mission junior, and vice-presidential candidate Jim Cramer, Prairie Village junior, beam brightly toward the prospective voter from their deep blue background. They look like the president and first lady, who are waiting, while going into the White House.
There is a limit, however, to how slick each candidate can make his election campaign. Candidates are limited by the Elections Committee of the Student Senate to spending $1,250 on an entire coalition's campaign. But that doesn't necessarily mean that each of the 40 or more members of the coalition gets an equal amount spent on his particular race.
The prospective senator then waits, hoping to ride to victory on the caffalls of his coalition's leadership.
Instead, each coalition member forks over about $20, most of which finances the presidential and vice-presidential races
Spending money in this manner to elect a student body president isn't new at KU. It seems to be a firmly embedded part of the coalfusion system that continues because it works.
Keep track of money is usually difficult, at best, for me. But both coalitions, with no prior notice, recently broke down campaign expenditures while on the phone.
Walker's campaign totals were $625 and he was willing to provide names and dates of these
Maybe it's the Consensus coalition's accusations of overspending that has perfected Walker's bookkeeping or maybe he's just efficient. Figures from Consensus treasurer Roger Ramsey, Prairie Village junior, were close to those reported by Walker.
Both coaliations will have to meet much further scrutiny than a telephone call as the election
A special Elections Review Board, which is made up of several senators, will review each campaign's expenditures to make sure they did not exceed the limit. The candidates must provide a copy and be reviewed for all campaigns and no vote may be counted until the expenditures are approved.
Momentum's idea behind its varied campaign strategy is to appeal to students from the entire school.
"We're trying to appeal to all 26,000 students at KU," Walker said. "Consensus seems to want to change."
Cramer denied wanting to appeal only to a few people. He said Consensus prided itself on its candidate's experience, and would concentrate on campaign issues and let the voters decide.
"We're trying to appeal to those people who take the time to vote and care about what they're doing," he said. "We want those voters who have a Student Senate or at least are willing to learn."
"Issue cards," containing the names and opinions of coalition members will be distributed on campus to inform students and encourage them to vote. It seems Consensus is serious in its approach, but there are issues, at least serious enough to spend a substantial part of the coalition's budget on the cards.
A different twist to the election will be provided by Consensus beginning this week.
Both coalitions will reach the monetary limits set by the elections committee. Each agreed that the rules — and strict enforcement of them — would be for a fairer campaign for everyone concerned.
"The rules have kind of been loosely held in the past," Cranmer said. "That's not going to be the case."
KANSAN
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Momentum's fresh ideas a plus
The Student Senate at the University of Kansas has for much too long a time lacked the Momentum to get things done.
On Wednesday and Thursday, KU students finally will get the chance to give the Senate what it needs — Momentum, the coalition determined not to just talk, but to get things
For a very long time KU students have heard about the possibility of having beer sold at Kansas Memorial Stadium. Many Senate administrations have discussed it; studied it and formed committees to look into it — but none of them ever managed to get the job done.
Certainly no one could argue the benefits of stadium beer sales. Increased revenue for the school and the philanthropic organizations that would sell it, the elimination of hard liquor from the stadium and a higher game attendance all seem rather attractive.
So why hasn't it happened?
We believe it's because of the Senate's failure to do one very simple thing; pursue some professional advice.
stadium and has the correct approach to get it done.
Momentum admits to knowing nothing about the business of selling beer. This is exactly the reason a Momentum-controlled Senate immediately will seek out brewery expertise. Those who sell beer for a living can certainly make a much more convincing presentation in favor of stadium beer sales than any student body president. Momentum believes in beer at the
The benefits received from KU's membership in the Associated Students of Kansas, a Topeka-based, student lobbying group, has become a hotly debated campaign issue. Momentum wants the students of KU to know the facts. After several years of effort, few, if any,
Tom Bath
passes of legislation initiated by ASK have even made it to the floor of the Kansas House of Representatives for a vote, all of course at great cost. The committee will not deny they receive, their accomplishments are
Momentum will first cut and then eliminate ASK, contingent upon replacing it with a KU-based lobbying effort which would be concerned only with KU and KU students.
A major concern to students is the price of tuition. Though we don't pretend to be able to lower tuition, we do feel that enacting a system of deferred payments is less than prudent. A student who pays tuition at once will be able to remain in school and not have to lay off a semester to work.
Momentum believes the price of campus parking tickets are too high and will fight to lower them. Momentum feels the students would like to know how this school feels it is justified in charging a student $7.50 for a parking violation, when most major metropolitan areas in this nation don't charge near that amount to their own non-student populations.
Our opponents feel they stand tall on experience. Once again Momentum wants KU students to know the facts. We just can't afford their type of experience. So far it's cost us thousands of dollars in unfound inventory and more than $20,000 in missing bus funds. This summer, that experience almost cost us another $8,000 because of an attempt to illegally purchase a computer for the Senate office. We can all do without that type of experience.
Momentum wants each student to know that all its candidates want to be held accountable for their actions. That is exactly why all 43 candidates have their pictures publicly and prominently displayed on posters around campus. They should also be able to talk to us and tell us your concerns.
A vote for Momentum candidates on Wednesday and Thursday will be a vote for a year of positive actions. The students of the University are leading the effort to build responsible leadership; they need Momentum.
Tom Bath, Stillwell junior, is a Liberal Arte and sciences candidate on the Momentum coalition tion.
Consensus' ticket experienced
Two days from now, elections for Student Senate will begin. Many students may still have doubts — who should I vote for? Why should I vote, or does it even matter?
We on Consensus strongly urge students to vote because it does matter, especially now. This election will make a dramatic difference in what happens in the future, and not only in the year to come, but for many years.
Experience is one of the most important issues in this campaign. It makes the difference between a Senate with only good intentions and a Senate that has a real say in University policy. The Senate can be more effective, not only to students, but to administrators, the Board of Regents and state legislators as well.
Lisa Ashner and Jim Cramer together have accumulated five years of Senate experience. Ashner chained the Senate Services Committee and most recently served as chairman of the Student Senate Executive Committee. Cramer has served on the Senate for two years and now chairs the Senate Committee on Student Rights, Privileges and Responsibilities.
Consensus combines the best of the returning senators with a number of outstanding individual candidates.
The other large coalition in this campaign has no Senate experience. This lack of first-hand knowledge of the Senate and the University is obvious when examining solutions for the problems affecting students. We offer candidates who will not need on-the-job training for KU's two most important elected student positions. Through their experience, Ashner and Cramer have recognized the Senate's weaknesses and can capitalize on its strengths to make it work for students on the issues that affect them most.
Budget cuts are the single most important issue facing students today. The elimination of jobs and reductions in financial aid in the last round of cutbacks sent many students reeling. Consensus supports the development of a state work-study program that would place students in paid internships with businesses and the state sharing the cost of salaries. Ashner has been successful in implementing this initiative is committed to its implementation. The oppositions offers nothing comparable.
Consensus supports the continued development of dean advisory committees, composed of students. The committees would give the institution organized voice in future decisions to cut spending.
Graduate students, comprising about one-
third of the student body, have been hit by the shortfall in unique ways. Teaching assistant contracts and discontinued programs are just two of the issues that a Consensus Senate would consider. Student input must be maximized in any decision over how and where programs
The rights of students to control their own organizations makes KU unique among universities. Students have control over health services in Watkins Hospital, their recreation facilities and their transportation system. In order to exercise control over these operations and run them to the best of their potential, the student body president and vice president must be familiar with University operations, as are Ashner and Cramer.
Terri Reicher
A Senate primarily controlled by students with no experience to spell disaster for these student-rum programs or cause the end of student control over them. An inexperienced Senate would need six months simply to learn about the Senate and the University.
Another area of student control concerns the student-run lobbying group, the Associated Students of Kansas. Consensus supports ASK as the most effective method of articulating student concerns in the statehouse. ASK gives students the opportunity to decide for themselves how to deal with issues such as financial aid, the drinking age and the landlord-tenant legislation.
ASK is a respected voice of the students in the Kansas Legislature.
The opposition views the student leadership of ASK as its major weakness, claiming that students cannot do a good job of articulating their own interests. We see the student element as ASK's major strength. Students who are concerned and informed are the logical spokesmen to address the legislative decisions that affect their lives.
In any election campaign, there are promises frequently made that may or may not be kept. For example, stadium beer sales has been claimed to be a primary issue by the opposition, more important to students than any academic or financial issues. Throughout the campaign, they have claimed the support of the Anheuser-Busch inoc. for lobbying the University and state. Anheuser-Busch, however, has 'named an owner's position as the opposition or in the future. Because of this, the opposition has blatantly changed their version of their dealings with Anheuser-Busch. Consensus hopes that students see this as a prime example of the opposition's credibility.
Consensus is the clear choice in student government. We offer students fresh ideas and knowledge that the opposition simply cannot match. We offer specific solutions to problems facing KU — problems the opponent either ignores or glosses over. If student government cannot deal with these issues from the student view, who can or will?
Finally, Consensus offers individuals who have shown a deep commitment to Senate and to KU in a variety of ways. When you vote this week, check the record — and vote Consensus.
Terri Reicher, a Leawood senior, is campaign manager for the Consensus coalition.
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The University Daily Kansan welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be typewritten, double-spaced and should not exceed 500 words. They should include the writer's name, address and phone number. If the writer is affiliated with the University, the letter should include his class and home town or faculty or staff position. The Kansas reserves the right to edit or reject letters.