4A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
opinion
MONDAY,AUGUST 18,2003
editorial board
New wage ordinance necessary for growth
For three years, Lawrence citizens have been preparing for tomorrow, when the city council will have a hearing to discuss the living wage
This is the opportunity to pass an ordinance which would dramatically improve the low wage earners' pay and benefits.
Included in the low wage earners' category are the increasing number of students paid minimum wage at their hourly jobs around town. This ordinance would boost employee confidence and recognize Lawrence as one of many cities across the country that enforces economic justice.
Some argue that the existing "fair wage" policy, otherwise known as the 2001 tax abatement, is substantial enough for Lawrence residents.
Unfortunately, this policy merely asks companies that receive city tax exemptions to pay their employees average wages, such as $5.25 an hour.
This may often keep wage earners at poverty level, but Lawrence deserves a policy where all workers are above the poverty level. No one should be left behind.
The only other negative argument concerning a living wage ordinance is that it would hurt the Lawrence business climate. This is not the case. The increasing support across the United States for such ordinances proves business expansion is gained through them
This is exactly what the Lawrence community needs, and now is the golden opportunity to obtain it. Lawrence recently ranked seventh in Forbes Magazine's "Best Places for Business and Career." Clearly, there is potential.
The current draft ordinance asks only two things of the city
First, it requires the businesses that receive tax breaks to pay their workers a wage high enough to keep a family of three at least 30 percent above the federal poverty line. Second, it asks the city to strictly enforce its wage policies.
A similar request has been made in more than 100 communities, including New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. The popularity of these ordinances was high overall. In fact, in Lawrence, 35 different student and community organizations have supported this ordinance, including the University of Kansas Student Senate.
Lawrence should adopt a policy that decreases poverty levels, ensures job growth for the city and provides better wages for hard-working students. It's about time our supposedly progressive city started living up to its reputation.
Lawrence's "fair wage" policy is not good enough. Of all the counties in Kansas, Douglas County ranks 62nd in income growth rate, below the state average.
Amanda Flott for the editorial board.
submitting letters and guest columns
The Kansan welcomes letters to the editors and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumni.
The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length, or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Louise Stauffer or Stephen Shupe at 864-4924 or e-mail at opinion@kansan.com
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Include:
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Also:
The Kansan will not print guest columns that attack another columnist.
LETTER GUIDELINES
Maximum Length:
200 word limit
Include:
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Author's telephone number
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SUBMITTO
E-mail: opinion@kansan.com Hard copy: Kansannewsroom 111 Stauffer-Flint
Reality Check
Pass:
'Kansan' report card:
The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics dedication: The University certainly received publicity, and maybe the Dole Institute will attract tourists, but the best part is the dream that now Kansas will be known for something other than The Wizard of Oz. Bye Toto!
Mountain Lion denial: Despite reports of mountain lion sightings from concerned citizens, including KU employees, the state says there is no evidence of wild mountain lions in Kansas. They tell us they're probably escaped or released animals. Anyone missing a huge cat with talons?
Look for changes off the page
Fail:
Louise Stauffer/Kansan
perspective
Notice anything different?
No? Look closer.
Skim the stories. Scan the headlines.
Still can't tell the difference?
Sure, it's the same ol' University Daily Kansan—the same paper that fits snugly into your textbook during your economics lectures.
It's still the same publication that humors you with the Free for All.
And you can still find out the latest on your beloved Kansas Jayhawks.
But we have made some changes. Some big ones — but not the kind you'll notice by glancing at the photographs.
Every semester, year after year, The University Daily Kansan editor and staff make changes. This semester is no different. But this time around, most of our best changes have been made off the pages of newsprint.
Don't put down the paper just yet, but I want you to check out our Web site, www.kansan.com, soon. Our Web editor, Rory Petty, and his team have worked all summer to bring our readers a better and improved product. Because of their hard work, we'll be able to offer our readers expanded coverage of campus events, extended photo galleries and new, fun features. No longer will Kansan.com be a carbon copy of the print version of the Kansan. Soon it will take on a life of its own with Web-only features such as campus-wide blogs. Look for a place on our Web site to share your stories — whether thought-provoking or drunken—soon. We want the site to be
GUEST COMMENTARY
Michelle Burhenn
opinion@hansan.com
the students' source for information and entertainment 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Kansan also plans to launch a wire service this fall. This means whether you're from neighboring Topeka or from Protection at the other end of the state, we will provide news that your hometown publications can use. If your name appears in the Kansan
use it. You can take a risk — whether for an award or for a minor-in-possession citation, your hometown editors will know about it. They can run our story without changing it or use our story as a source for their own.
Come Thursday, be prepared for a revolutionary Jayplay, our weekly entertainment section. The publication has been updated and given a new life.
Before, freelancers produced content for Jayplay. Now Jayplay has its own full-time staff. The design and presentation has been revamped. Also, you'll find weekly departments that we've chosen to cater to what students care about. The Jayplay editor, Andrew Vaupel, and his staff of about 20 have stories planned that will range from
to have a great night out in Lawrence to how to make a masterpiece decoration out of junkyard scraps for your humble abode. Also, look for Jayplay to be a sponsor of an upcoming concert.
Tired of picking up soaking wet papers? We're working with the University to purchase new distribution boxes to replace the current wooden eyesores.
We may be making a lot of changes, but some aspects of the Kansan will never change.
We remain the University's student-run newspaper. We have about 200 students writing stories, editing copy, designing pages, selling ads, creating ads and managing staff members. Some of these positions are paid; most are not
The Kansan is still independent. We are not run by the University. Less than 5 percent of our budget comes from student fees. That money pays for your subscriptions, which breaks down to about a penny a day per student. The rest of our budget comes from the work of our 45-person advertising staff.
The Kansan is still your source for news, entertainment and sports. We still want your praise and your criticism. We have thick skins.
Bottom line: The Kansan is produced for you, our readers.
Welcome to The University Daily Korean
Thanks for joining us.
■ Michaelle Burhenn is a Topeka junior in journalism. She is *Kansan* editor.
perspective
Page is 'buffet' of fresh ideas
Here it is, the first opinion page of the year.
This page is a forum for everyone's thoughts. Some may confound you, some may make you laugh, cry, or get so angry you have an outburst so loud everyone on Wescoe Beach will watch as you rip out your hair and kick the newsstand over.
But all of the issues have to do with you,the reader.
think of the opinion page as a buffet, a Las Vegas buffet.
foods of an island.
Carnivore? No problem, just look for the Salisbury steak or General Tso's chicken.
Feel like home cooking? Check out the variety of macaroni and potato salads
First of all, a buffet, done right, has foods of all kinds.
Just like the seemingly endless display of food that a buffet contains, the Opinion page contains a variety of ideas.
You will read editorials, columns and cartoons that express every imaginable opinion. Each different viewpoint has to do with you. Each person who submits a piece is a part of your community.
Louise Stauffer opinion@kansan.com
GUEST COMMENTARY
In a buffet, there may be all kinds of different foods. From the pudding to the Lo Mein, it's all there to make sure you keep going.
Material on this page is food for the brain, meant to strengthen your mind and expand your thoughts.
OK, so the Opinion page and a Vegas buffet are not entirely the same.
A friend of mine expressed his main fear of buffets by saying "You just don't know how long the food has been sitting out. Hours, days- who knows?"
Don't worry; the opinion page's material is fresh every day. There will never be a "repeat" day or a Tuesday special.
Our editorial board meets twice a week to discuss issues which affect the student body. The board will discuss all aspects of everything from protests to parking, whatever is on students' minds.
The opinion page is also fresh because of you, the reader. The readers' responsibility is to let the Kansan know how they feel. The opinion page is the only page where anyone can say what they want. Anyone may submit a guest column or letter to the editor by e-mail to opinion@kansan.com or deliver a hard copy to the newsroom at room 100 Stauffer Flint Hall.
board is composed of members of the staff. In The University Daily Kansan, the board is picked from the general population of students, so it can directly reflect your concerns.
After you finish a buffet, you may feel differently depending on how the food agrees with you. Satisfied? Maybe. Grossed out? Possibly. But each time, you experience something new, probably foods you never would have tried otherwise.
In a traditional newspaper, an editorial
That is our goal for this semester's page— to encourage all readers to read thoughts, issues and ideas that they never would have, had they not read the buffet, excuse me, opinion page. Hungry, anyone?
Louise Stauffer is Holland, Mich., senior in journalism and English. She is Kansan opinion editor.
Free for All
Call 864-0500
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
For more comments, go to www.kansan.com
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Oh my God, I can't believe it. I saw Shane Norris at Fatso's. He is so famous right now.
Helloooo, KU. Now I'm not sure if I'm the first, but I definitely want to welcome everybody back. I hope everyone had a great summer. Hope everyone had a good year. If you're new to KU, welcome. If you're returning, welcome. Just checking in. And I hope everyone has a wonderful, wonderful year. I'm so happy to be back in Lawrence. So happy to be back with the Free For All. Love the Kansan. Everyone have a great year.
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Does anybody else think it's the greatest thing ever that The West Wing is on Bravo? The first season, the best season? That's all I have to ask.
Dude, the snozzberries taste like snozzberries!
Michelle Burhenn
editor
864-4854 or mburhenn@kansan.com
Lindsay Hanson and Leah Shaffer managing editors 864-4854 or lhanson@kansan.com and lshaffer@kansan.com
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Louise Stauffer and Stephen Shupe opinion editors 864-4924 or opinion@kansan.com
Amber Agee
business manager
864-4358 or aagee@kansan.com
Taylor Thode
retail sales manager
864-4358 or adales.kansan.com
Malcolm Gibson
Malcolm Gibson general manager and news adviser 864-7667 or mgibson@kansan.com
Matt Fisher
sales and marketing adviser
864-7666 or mfisher@kansan.com