Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
Kansan
Published daily since 1912
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4A
Monday, October 13, 1997
Andrew Saeger / KANSAN
Examining
Diversification goals unrealistic
A great university, according to Chancellor Robert Hemenway's 1996 annual report, welcomes all peoples, respecting their differences, while teaching tolerance for each human being. We cannot serve as an American democratic model unless we reflect the ethnic mosaic of the American republic, he states.
Hemenway's philosophy is politically fashionable, and his subsequent goals to increase minority enrollment correlate with this ideal.
But whether the University is on its way to achieving these goals is in serious question.
Hemenway has goals to recruit and retain more minority students. Specifically, he is setting his sights at having an increase of 360 minority freshmen enrolled in 2001 than in 1996. In addition, he hopes to raise the number of international students to 2,500 in that same time period.
The recent commitment by the admissions office to cut down on misleading advertising and public declarations about our University's vast
and diverse minority population is a refreshing step toward honesty.
Despite that honesty, the facts still remain: The fall 1997 minority head count, which includes Native-American, Asian, African-American, Hispanic and international students, is 2,286. Rising only 1 percent from last fall's head count of 2,264 students, these numbers seem to indicate failure. In a University with an annual enrollment of about 25,000, minority student account for only 9 percent of the total student population.
Although the geographical location of the University has some impact upon these low percentages, it seems as if Hemenway has set seemingly unattainable goals.
In reality, some enrollment statistics for fall 1997 are actually in the negative. The number of Asian students dropped 2.6, percent and the international student count had a 6.1 percent decrease from 1996 and stands at 1,534 students. While Native-American, African-American and Hispanic student enrollment increased slightly,
total minority population statistics paint a grim picture in the face of the Hemenway's goals.
Director of Admissions Alan Cerveny accounts for the slow growth of minority enrollment by citing a turnover in this year's multicultural recruiting program.
Cerveny said that despite the lack of substantial results, we made some headway last year. He added, though, that no one was satisfied with where we are in minority enrollment.
The administration attempts to portray the image of a University constantly in pursuit of more diversity. Whatever Hemenway's intentions are, though, the statistics speak louder than his words.
An examination of diversity, or lack thereof, in this year's student population leads to the conclusion that either the Chancellor's goals of increasing minority enrollment are too high and will not be fulfilled, or that the administration is not putting forth a sufficient effort to support a politically fashionable philosophy.
Nadia Mustafa for the editorial board
Games should stop on Stop Day
Athletics should not take precedence over academics. In school, as in life, work comes before play, and at an institution devoted to learning, sports can't be allowed to interfere with classes. Allowing the men's basketball game against the University of Massachusetts to fall on Stop Day is an example of such misplaced priorities.
Despite a University Senate rule prohibiting organizations from scheduling events during the final exam period, both the Kansas-UMass and the women's basketball game against Arkansas State will occur during this period. This disregard for rules designed to help students academically
is unacceptable.
Students who are basketball fans will be distracted by games scheduled during finals. Huge crowds, celebration, television coverage and restricted parking all will hinder students' ability to study. The distractions of a basketball game shouldn't occur during finals, especially at a basketball-crazed school like the University of Kansas.
The student-atheletes participating in these games also will suffer, perhaps to a greater extent than the rest of the student body. The pressures of practice, preparation and participation in the games will weigh heavily against their study time. Like any other student, they
have long nights of studying and reviewing leading up to their final exams.
Rescheduling the men's basketball game against Pepperdine was the right thing to do. It was scheduled during finals period and was moved to a later date. While this action was exemplary of how the University should treat its students, it was not carried out in the other two cases, as it should have been.
The University is a noted academic institution. As such, it should place its focus on helping its students learn and grow in an academic setting. Kansas' reputation as a basketball school should not overshadow the academic needs of students during finals.
Bradley Brooks . *Editorial*
Jason Strait . *Editorial*
Jodie Chester . *News*
Jen Smith. . *News*
Adam Darby. . *News*
Charity Jeffries. . *Online*
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Kansan staff
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"God's mouth knows not how to speak falsehood, but he brings to pass every word."
Broaden your mind: Today's quote
—Aeschylus
**Letters:** Should be double-spaced typed and fewer than 200 words. Letters must include the author's signature, name, address and telephone number plus class and home-town if a University student. Faculty or staff must identify their positions.
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All letters and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stuaffer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Bradley Brooks (brooks@kansan.com) or Jason Strait (jstrait@kansan.com) at 864-4810. If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the staff foot (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4810.
Raving
Shedding some light on the dangerous walk
As I leave my campus job at Watson Library, it is midnight. I must arm myself for the journey home across the poorly lit campus and city.
I methodically put on my bulletproof vest, load my 20-gauge shotgun and my AK-47, sharpen my skinning knife, put my mace in its hip holster and strategically place each of my keys between my fingers.
I begin my mantra: Head up, eyes forward, walk normal but confident. I am a strong and confident woman.
Anna Attkisson
opinion@aansan.com
This elaborate preparation will protect me from the demons in my head. It might even make me a less-likely target for the demons of the shadows. But it will not stop an attack from happening as I walk the three blocks home.
With the increasing incidents of weirdos on campus, especially in Watson, I am overly aware of the possibility of exposure or attack by some creep. When I bring this problem up to my friends, they tell me not to walk by myself.
I suppose I could drive the three blocks to campus. It's a waste of fuel, unneeded pollution and would not save any time. Driving to work or campus is dependent on finding a parking place. After two and half years here, I have learned the hard way how unlikely that is.
I have to be at work at 5 p.m. Campus does not open until 5 p.m.
I could take Safe Ride. That is if I want to wait, alone, in the dark for 10 to 30 minutes. I can walk home in that amount of time.
It is too bad I don't live in a sorority or in
The street lights on campus are relatively effective — compared to moonlight. I can almost see my hand in front of my face if I look real hard. The street lights in Lawrence are OK if you count porch lights because I don't really count the big poles that rise out of the blackness, once a block.
I dart quickly between the bastions of lighted safety and imagine myself as a command in the jungle. Forget enjoying the night. I am at war with the shadows and the occasional drunk from The Crossing.
campus housing. Then I could get an escort from some strange boy that I don't know. He could walk me home in the dark. I don't think so.
It also is too bad that I don't live on the bus route. However, I assure you that I am not alone. Also, the bus has made its final round by the time I get off work.
Better lighting on campus may not protect me from a crazy person. It may not dispel the demons in my head, but it might just eliminate the ability and opportunity for the average drunk to become out of control.
I realize that I may be written off as a paranoid woman, but just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean someone isn't out to get me.
I have come to the conclusion that the only answer is to walk home. If only it wasn't so dark.
So I will stick with my bulletproof vest, my mace, my AK-47 and my keys. I will continue to rally for campus to open earlier (most classes are over by 4:30) and for better lighting throughout campus and the city.
But for now, I just want to get home, safely.
Attkisson is a Lawrence junior in journalism.
Feedback
Landlord story neglects other side
The article that followed referred to the victimization of students at the hands of the landlords.
I am concerned at the highly inflammatory headline in the Oct. 3 "Kansan" that read "Are Students Getting Robbed?"
I would readily admit that not all landlords play by the rules: When they do not, they should be held accountable. However, for every bad landlord story, be assured there are at least an equal number of horrific stories involving students. They also should be responsible for the damage and debt they leave behind. This aspect of landlord-tenant relations was not mentioned anywhere in the article. No landlords were interviewed.
The only helpful information in the piece was the advice offered by Braxton Copley, an attorney at Legal Services for students. Unfortunately, many students enter the rental market without the knowledge he offered.
Leases are a collection of words — and words mean things. The words in a lease clearly define the rights and responsibilities of tenant and landlord. The lease is considered a legal contract under the Kansas Landlord-Tenant Act. To affix one's signature to any contract without reading and understanding the content is not wise. Many students seem more eager just to close the deal than take the time to understand. Then when held to the terms of the lease, they are surprised.
The attorney, Copley,
makes excellent recommendations about the check-in,
check-out procedures. Documentation of conditions at lease initiation eliminates unfair security deposit deductions at the vacation date. Credible landlords require that this be done.
The Kansas Landlord-Tenant Act protects both parties against violations by either to the other. Understanding one's rights and pursuing the enforcement thereof prohibits any person, student or otherwise, from getting robbed.
Judith A. Morris Master Plan Management
Jesus,not Jim,has the real message
I'm responding to Jeff Mudrick's editorial about "Brother Jim's preaching."
I share in his outrage at the things that Jim Gilles said Tuesday. The man who claims he no longer sins was in fact sinning by uttering those very words (1 John 1:8, Ephesians 4:29-32), putting himself in the same class along with those he was lambasting and condemning to hell.
My main concern with Gilles, however, is not in what he said. My main concern is that you, Jeff, and others who think like you, allow him to shape your view of what it means to be a born-again Christian. Let me explain.
I can say I am a golfer. I can show you my clubs. I can throw all the lingo at you. I can even show you my practice swing. But when you go out on to the course with me and watch me play 18 holes you then will know that I am not a golfer. I use this analogy not to say whether Gilles is a Christian, but to say that you cannot discern what a Christian is by what he or she says, just as you cannot tell whether I am truly a golfer by what I say.
During the years I have noticed that Christianity is being evaluated by the behavior of certain believers. Is this fair? Is this logical? Not any more than it would be to evaluate me as a golfer by what I say.
The real question is not what does Gilles say, but, what does Jesus say? That is where we are all have to start in evaluating what it means to be a Christian.
Who is Jesus? What did he say? That is the starting point. It is there where we can rightfully form our opinions. And if by even the longest of shots, he is, in fact, who he claims to be, don't you owe it to yourself to spend a little bit
As much as it was unfair and wrong for Gilles to judge people by looking superficially at their exterior, it is unfair for people to judge Jesus and Christianity without first looking at his claims. Let's not make blanket statements about Christians based upon what some crazy, as Jim put it, preacher-man says.
of your time investigating what could cost you,or save you eternally?
Kelly Liebengood Lawrence graduate student
I consider by self a born-again Christian. I do not, however, identify with Brother Jim and the description of the born-again Christian Jeff Mudrick shared in his opinion column Oct. 9.
As a born-again Christian I do not "declare myself better than others," and I plan to get a real job. I hope to reflect the love of Christ. Philippians 2 tells us that to reflect Christ, we must make ourselves nothing and take on the very nature of a servant. Brother Jim seems, instead, like one ready to stone the adulteress in John 8. Jesus tells the Pharisees that those who are without sin should stone her. Not even Christ threw a stone or condemned her. He said: "Has no one condemned you? Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and sin no more."
I just wanted to give Jeff and the rest of the campus an opportunity to hear from a born-again Christian who was disturbed by Brother Jim's message. I've enjoyed getting to know my fellow students here at the University and don't believe that being a born-again Christian should impede these relationships. I do hope that those around me see me as understanding and as a servant.
Lucas C. Neece
Topeka freshman
Sensationalist rhetoric lacks substance
Andy Obermueller's Oct. 8 editorial relishes the role of the columnist as the attack dog. I agree that well-chosen rhetoric can and should make the comfortable afflicted. But I question the value of tossing out opinions like hand grenades and the gleefully congratulating oneself once the irate letters arrive. Writing opinions that bring a hall of letters does not signify journalistic expertise anymore than saying Brother Jim's preaching is top notch because he draws a swarm of irritated students.
Duane Wagler Lawrence graduate student