Opinion
Kansan
Published daily since 1912
4A
Spencer Duncan, Entero
Lindsey Henry, Managing editor
Andrea Albright, Managing editor
Tom Eblen, General manager, news adviser
Sarah Scherwinski, Business manager Brian Pagel, Retail sales manager Dan Simon, Sales and marketing adviser Justin Knupp, Technology coordinator
Thursday, Oct. 16, 1997
David Keith / KANSAN
Feedback
Students misuse spaces cause Watkins' problems
Gerry Doyle's editorial regarding parking at Watkins Memorial Health Center being an injustice is entirely correct. However, the injustice isn't the result of Parking Department greed. It is the result of students' selfish disregard for their fellow students' needs.
Even though there is a shortage of available parking on campus, the Parking Service graciously allocated 33 metered spaces close to the Health Center for the use of student patients. These spaces are clearly labeled "Health Center Only," and initially provided for a maximum time of 10 hours.
Unfortunately, students going to class — not to the Health Center — filled these spaces each day, and Watkins patients often had nowhere to park.
Responding to our requests, Parking Service reduced the maximum-metered time for Health Center designated spaces to two hours, but this reduction had little effect as the problem persisted. We then requested parking service to reduce the maximum-metered time to one hour and Parking Service complied. Our intent was to reduce the amount of metered time to the point where it would be difficult for a student to park, attend class and return before time expired on the meter. We wanted to discourage improper use of these metered parking spaces to allow students' parking availability at the Health Center.
We at Watkins have found parking service to be very cooperative and interested in helping to find a workable solution to the parking dilemma. We agree that injured or sick students should be able to visit a medical facility built for them. The injustice is the intentional misuse of these spaces by some students at the expense of other students with medical needs.
James Strobl Director of Watkins
'Melons' letter wrong, women need a voice
Political correctness sucks. PC is patriarchal constructed language which eases the elite's conscience and makes real problems invisible, invalid jokes.
Oh, wait. But I'm a woman, so I'm sure that I'm just getting overly emotional. Let me grab my Valium
This is in response to Christi Barb's Oct. 9 letter lambasting women on campus for getting angry about the "Nice Melons" caption in a recent "Kansan."
I guess we, as strong women, must strive to chuckle and giggle at these silly sexual comments, even when they're not as subtle as they usually are. Mature, real women need to let these comments slide off our backs and not turn into crazy bitches. Oh, our anger isn't valid. Where do women get off using their voices? Stop that — you're threatening some conservative beliefs. You're acting like a man, having an opinion about your life. And, I guess, if you use your voice, then you wear "white cotton briefs," as Christi states in her letter. Unless it's an issue that already has the legitimate recognition of patriarchal authorities, Christi seems to say, shut up.
Your letter sent a strong message to me, Christi: Don't be a prude, be proud of your melons. Here is my suggestion: Maybe you, and most of society, should try listening to younger women who might not find contentment with succulent fruit/breast comparisons. The next time you — or anyone makes the remark, "grow up girls and focus on real issues," why don't you follow it with some suggestions of the "real issues." Unless, of course, nothing is real to you.
Maybe you're right, Christi. Maybe sexual harassment is nonsense. If a woman ever feels self-conscious about sexual remarks, gestures, touches, images — hey, that's her stupid girl demon overreacting. And when real women learn to laugh at life's little sexual images, touches, remarks, then eventually they'll learn to laugh at life's little stalkings, beatings and
rapes. Hey, Christi, one day a woman's world will be perfect and non-rundish
I guess you're right. Sexism really isn't an issue — just like racism and classism, it is a figment of overly bitchy imaginations.
You know, never mind. Christi. I take it back. I wouldn't want to burst the little bubble you're living in. You might drown in the rushing waves of reality.
Machell Collier Berryton senior
'Sex on Campus' edition misleads on abstinence
I appreciate the attempts you made in the recent edition of "The Hill — Sex on Campus," to address the subject of abstinence. By devoting an article to the subject, you acknowledged that many students recognize abstinence from sex outside of marriage as a healthful way of life.
However, the article, "Facts about common contraceptives," sent me into a fit of laughter. Under disadvantages for abstinence you list, "may bring psychologic or physiologic dysfunction." I have not yet heard of anyone who exploded, imploded or was warped by waiting to have sex until marriage.
Was Watkins Memorial Health Center really your source on this? If so, I'd like to see their source.
My personal and professional experience tells me the opposite: people suffer much more psychologic and physiologic dysfunction from being used and abused in casual sexual relationships than they ever could suffer by waiting for the committed relationship of marriage. And there are even some of us who live consecrated chastity for life in a happy and healthful way.
In any event, thanks for the attempt. I hope you will continue to cover campus events which promote the values of abstinence and committed relationships.
Sister Karen Klaffenbach
St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center
Kansan staff
Bradley Brooks ... Editorial
Jason Strait ... Editorial
Jodie Chester ... News
Jen Smith ... News
Adam Darby ... News
Charity Jeffries ... Online
Kristie Blasi ... Sports
Tommy Gallagher ... Associate Sports
Dave Morantz ... Campus
Eric Weslander ... Campus
Ashleigh Roberts ... Features
Steve Puppe ... Photo
Bryan Volk ... Design, graphics
Mitch Lucas ... Illustrations
Mark McMaster ... Wire
Ann Marchand ... Special sections
Lachelle Rhoades ... News clerk
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Brian LeFevire . . . Production
Jen Wallace. . . . . . Production
Dustin Skidgel . . . Promotions
Tyler Cook . . . . Creative
Annette Hoover . Public relations
Rachel O'Neill . Classified
Jaime Mann . . . Assistant classified
Marc Harrell . Senior account executive
Scott Swedish . Senior account executive
Broaden your mind:
"The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Nix the Rock Chalk points, serve for you
Raving
The theme of this year's Rock Chalk Revue is "Two Truths and a Lie." Let's explore this.
Truth number one: Rock Chalk Revue is a
way for KU students to showcase their theatrical or musical talents with members of their living groups in order to raise money for a worthwhile cause.
Truth number two: Rock Chalk Revue is an opportunity for many students to contribute valuable time to community service.
Matt
Bachand
opinion@kansan.com
The big lie: Rock Chalk Revue is all about the community.
It's really all about Rock Chalk points.
Roughly a dozen living groups will submit entries to the campus-wide variety show, which benefits the United Way. Last year Rock Chalk raised more than $30,000 and donated more than 34,000 hours of community service to the United Way of Douglas County. This makes Rock Chalk Revue one of the countries largest student-run philanthropies, according to the "Kansan." Another aspect of Rock Chalk, though, is the community service awards, which are won by the accumulation of Rock Chalk points.
Rock Chalk service hours become a yardstick for groups to see who gives the most back to the community. That is, community service becomes both competitive and a means to an end — winning.
I do community service, although admittedly not as much as I wish. But to do community service with the thought of accumulating Rock Chalk points demeans the entire concept of service. Community service for the sake of serving is a lost idea. A pat-yourself-on-the-back attitude that demeans service and belittles the served becomes the focus because winning is now the goal.
Keeping score undermines service and commodifies the effort of the contributors. You also make value judgements as to what constitutes community service. Food Not Bombs serves dinner to increase awareness of homelessness and poverty while publicly bringing people together to share in the democratic distribution of food. They are mostly a bunch of dedicated high school and junior high school students who see this as a duty to their community. They are the model that all who do community service should follow.
Whenever I serve alongside those who get points, they log their time and leave, having received enough points to feel as though they have helped someone. And they have helped I will never deny that necessary work is being done on behalf of others. But these people are held back by that point. They leave after they have it. They feel as though the point means something. But it doesn't mean service. It means they are that much closer to winning a community service award.
Take the U.S. dollar. The United States dollar is based on trust and trust alone. There's nothing holding it up except your faith, and people have so much faith in that piece of paper that they forget what they use it for. I once asked someone why a person would farm, and this person said "for profit."
I was under the impression you farmed to feed people. This person had been deluded into thinking money is more than food. Mediums of exchange, be they Rock Chalk points or the U.S. Dollar, take your mind and intentions away from the true goal. This violates the spirit of the deed and demeans the entire endeavor. Many people rightly ridicule Rock Chalk because the service aspect is muddled by the pageantry.
Our culture loves rewards. We work for a paycheck. We expect to be thanked. We want to be complimented. This is reasonable to a point, but Americans have become reward-junkies. The Rock Chalk mentality is such that you need to reward someone if you want him or her to participate.
What if those who accumulate Rock Chalk points didn't receive them anymore? Some, even many, of them might still serve. But judging by our culture's lamentable state in this arena, far more would be at home watching the Chiefs game. But no one could say anything against those who still served. They would be living up to the standard all of us should hold each other to. But then, there's little reward with such high standards.
Rock Chalk review would be better off pointless. It may not mean that you win a community service award, but it will mean community service again.
Bachand is a Knob Noster, Mo., senior in English.
Professional student describes, explains job
People usually ask me why I am wasting my talents at the University of Kansas, why I don't go into the "real world" and share the many talents that life has given me. Whenever I buy something on credit, I am usually asked if I work. When I answer, "Yes, I am a student," I am invariably asked, "Yes, but do you have a real job?"
Yes, I do have a real job:
I am a professional student, and this job comprises three main activities:
(1Studying (2 Teaching;
(3Dreaming of a new and better world and sharing the results of my dreams with whoever believes that the human race deserves a better world.
Donato
Fhunsu
opinion@kansan.com
seven day a week, and I love it. I am a leader in the field of languages. There are times when I do not do as well as I should, and I disappoint myself and my professors. Because I am interested in everything under the sun, some of my instructors call me dilettante.
Not long ago, somebody believing to have a deep insight into my life, told me: "You don't have a real job, you don't have a wife, you don't have kids, you are only a student: you are irresponsible."
These three activities keep me busy, excited, alive and happy. I am on duty 24 hours a day.
Well, let me try to explain the responsibilities of my job.
Studying. The importance of study and the contribution of students and scholars to the enlightenment of the human race is usually misunderstood. It is said that by pondering the causes of human suffering and coming up with the relevant solutions, Buddha achieved illumination. Today, centuries after that event, millions of people around the world are following his lessons. By studying, I am contributing to strengthen the atmosphere of light that surrounds our planet.
Teaching. As a student-teacher I work with real students who are real people. I help them with their real problems and I am making a real contribution to the life of the community. I am a real employee of the state of Kansas through the University of Kansas, employed full-time — 50 percent as a graduate student and 50 percent as a
Dreaming. People usually wonder why I waste my time and energy writing for the "Kansan" since I don't get paid. The truth is I do get paid, but not in dollars. I get paid with the inner realization that in writing and in talking with the people who read my columns I am making an important contribution. I am helping to anchor the human consciousness that we are all brothers and sisters sharing the same planet, that we are all important, and that our individual lives and common experience are a blessing worth living for and sharing with others. I write because people need hope and a positive vision for the future. As the Book of Proverbs puts it, "Without a [positive] vision the people perish."
teacher. I get paid with the same real dollars as everybody else.
Writer Max Heindel's motto, "A sane mind, a soft heart, a sound body," also is my motto. I am picky about what I eat, drink and watch because, as computer scientists put it, "Garbage in, garbage out." I am silent when necessary and I speak my mind when appropriate. I am not intimidated by anything or anybody. I also am allergic to stupidity. Why be content with stupidity when knowledge, understanding and wisdom are widely and freely available?
In order to enhance my ability to study, teach and dream, I learn to pray, meditate and wonder about the things of the spirit. I also strengthen my body, mind, soul and spirit by practicing Kuk Sool (a traditional Korean martial arts system). Kuk Sool's tenets, "Courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, indomitable spirit," I have adopted as my own.
"To those who ask me "What do you intend to do when you grow up?" I simply answer, "I intend to do three things and I am already doing them here and now: studying, teaching, dreaming. I am one of the happiest people on the face of the planet."
To all my fellow students I say, "Take yourselves as you are now. No matter what you might intend to do in the future, being a student is your acre of diamonds right now. Explore it to the fullest and enjoy those gems. You are the most important people in the world. Do not let anybody rob you of your true value. Do not sell yourselves short."
Fhunsu is a Lawrence graduate student in French.