Opinion
Kansan
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
Published daily since 1912
Spencer Duncan, Editor Lindsey Henry, Managing editor Andrea Albright, Managing editor Tom Eblen, General manager, news adviser
4A
Sarah Scherwinki, Business manager
Brian Penal, Retail sales manager
Dan Simon, Sales and marketing adviser
Justin Knupp, Technology coordinator
Friday, October 10, 1997
Examining
Internal Revenue Service needs overhaul, cease singling out poor
The National Senate Finance Committee has recently concluded a hearing concerning gross abuses of power by the Internal Revenue Service. Americans should be in a state of consternation that an agency such as the IRS can claim arbitrary power to impose its will. Senator Phil Gramm said at the hearing that Congress needs to pass legislation aimed at changing the structure of the IRS. This is a non-partisan view that should be supported by all Americans.
The hearing uncovered IRS harassment targeted at low-income families. One IRS agent testified that the agency frequently goes after the poor and uneducated. The IRS claims families making less than $20,000 can not get by without cheating. In addition, it is
much easier to audit low-income families because they often do not have the time to sift through IRS statements or the money to combat IRS harassment. Wealthy taxpayers do not capitulate as easily because they can afford high-priced lawyers to tie their cases up in the courts. Therefore, the IRS goes for the easy money — the poor.
The IRS not only appears to be corrupt, but vindictive as well. One witness said at the hearing that retaliation within the IRS occurs almost on a daily basis. High-ranking IRS agents have allegedly accessed confidential tax files of friends, neighbors, and public figures. Friends of IRS bureaucrats are never touched, while enemies, including anyone who badmouths the system, can be audited at any time, according to testimony.
Acting IRS commissioner Michael Dolan meekly apologized to victims of IRS abuse and promised to enact measures to make sure such abuse would be eliminated from the system. But Dolan's proposals only heaps bureaucracy on top of bureaucracy and tinkers with a system that needs major overhaul. Dolan and others have destroyed the lives of some and instilled fear into most. A simple "I'm sorry for your pain" will not do.
A major restructuring of the tax system in this country is desperately needed. Whether an elimination of the current tax code, or a reorganization from top to bottom, something must be done to eradicate further IRS abuses. The IRS cannot be allowed to continue to bully innocent Americans. The bully must be put in its place.
Nick Zaller for the editorial board
Parking meters at Watkins an injustice
Metered parking spaces are prevalent throughout campus. In many cases, the meters prevent choice spots from being used for too long. However, metered spaces in front of Watkins Health Center are a detriment to students.
The wait for a student who walks in to see a doctor can be between 15 minutes to over an hour. This wait, which varies by the number of walk-in patients, is in some respects understandable. The size of the Health Center's staff and lack of control of peak hours makes wait times unpredictable at best. Even a student with an appointment can wait as many as 20 minutes before being moved to
an examination room.
The metered spaces in front of the Health Center compound this problem. With a maximum time of one hour, these parking meters will more often than not run out on students waiting to see a physician. When the lots by Naimshi hall are full, or when a student is seeing the doctor for a problem that limits his or her mobility, the spaces in front of the Health Center are the only real choice. A parking ticket and fine are often the result.
If these spaces did not have parking meters, they might be overused. However, if the meters were made to accept enough money
Injured or sick students should be able to visit a medical facility built for them without worrying about eagle-eyed parking department employees noticing that the meter has run out on their parking space. The parking department might need revenue to operate, but students seeking medical attention should not be a part of their plan.
for two hours, most students could see a doctor without getting a parking ticket. While it is perhaps unrealistic to expect shorter waits for student health care, the parking department could surely afford to change the meters in front of the Health Center.
Gerry Doyle for the editorial board
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
Kansan staff
News editors
Advertising managers
Matt Fisher ... Assistant retail
Michael Soifer ... Campus
Colleen Eager ... Regional
Anthony Migliazzo ... National
Jeff Auslander ... Marketing
Chris Haghrian ... Internet
Brian LeFevre ... 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
Broadon your mind: Today's quote
"People as, 'Do we have gangs in Lawrence?' I say yes because we have graffiti; we have drugs; we have aggravated robbery and assault; we have attempted murder."
Detective Mike McAtee of the Lawrence Police Department
**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.
How to submit letters and guest columns
**Guest columnss** Should be double-
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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 page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4810.
Reviewing
Finding right perception is key to understanding
On Wednesday night I went to the 10th floor of Ellsworth Hall and talked with more than 100 angry people.
We discussed many things: The death of
Angie Griffin. Insensitivity in journalism. A journalist's not understanding how what he had written could be seen as insensitive. The anger that the printed word can create.
But above all else, we talked of the process of perceiving or perception.
Bradley Brooks
brooks@kansan.com
The American Heritage Dictionary defines perception as 1) The process, act or result of perceiving. 2a) Insight or knowledge gained by perceiving. 2b) The capacity for insight.
The process of perceiving is why I have decided to become a journalist. That process is why, for one of the first times in my life, I have found something I am utterly passionate about.
Perceptions. Or, more to the point, changing perceptions — mine and others — and making them clear.
In a column last Friday, I wrote of Angie's death that "I, like most of us, would have reacted in exactly the same way," to Angie's death on the morning of Friday, Sept. 26 "By doing nothing."
And therein lies the wrong perception.
Anyone should have known that these kids were concerned about their friend and asked how she was doing. They offered to help her. They tried to help her. But she died. And they did, as I also stated in last Friday's column, anything that you or I would have.
But I didn't ask them, or state in the column, what they did. And for that, I apologize. According to her floormates, Angie was checked on several times, to make sure she was all right.
My conclusion led the residents of this floor to perceive that I was pointing a finger at them, blaming them outright for their friend's death. That is certainly not what I intended. But for them, that is exactly what happened.
But, as I told those gathered Wednesday night, I can't apologize for the column I wrote as a whole. I can't apologize for writing about a newsworthy event, no matter how painful. I stand by what I was trying to say and always will.
I never held that perception about Angie's friends, and I hoped that anyone who read my article didn't either. But Angie's floormates
But I am regretful and sorry for how these students felt they were perceived: as cold-hearted, careless people who let their friend die. Nothing could be further from the truth.
and others did. That is simply too important to overlook.
So where are we? What does this leave us to think about?
I'll tell you: The power of perception
I tell you. The power of perception. All Asians are good at math. All Jews are stingy. All Blacks are good at athletics. All Whites are racists.
All perceptions. Sometimes true, sometimes not.
For instance, I was raised to respect somebody no matter if they're brown, black, purple or green. I know Black kids who are about as athletic as a string. I know Jewish students pursuing social welfare degrees, preparing to spend a life of service. And yes, I know Asians who can barely add.
Perceptions. We, as a society, have got to weed through the poor ones and find something more.
While I was speaking on the 10th floor Wednesday night, I couldn't help but feel as if I was clinging to the back of a raging bull. The chance of that meeting surged out of control was apparent. I perceived that those in attendance were on the edge of their seats and ready to have at my throat.
The problem of perceptions. When problems of this nature are solved they make powerful changes for the good.
But when their resident assistant Jamie Patterson called a halt to the proceedings, something happened.
And I was shocked. My perceptions of them as being hate-filled and non-understanding melted away. And I would like to think maybe their perceptions of me did, too.
Many students came up to me and shook my hand, said they respected me for coming there. Some said "thank you," showed they cared that I came.
And during that conversation, they consolo me, said they were sorry for what was going on and basically just made me feel better.
But my mother, after hearing a full description of the nights events, told me something very simple about humankind that I won't forget: "Bradley, we do care for each other, but sometimes we just don't show it."
On Wednesday, the residents of Ellsworth's 10th floor showed me they care. I hope I showed them that I care. And, I guess, I only wish that all of us will do what I was trying to say the first time I wrote about Angie Griffin and her death:
Show that we care.
Brooks is a Hill City senior and an editorial page editor.
Feedback
Residents, writer acted with integrity
I would like to thank Bradley Brooks, the 3E community, and the residents, staff and friends who attended the meeting of more than 100 students in Ellsworth Hall last night. The editorial that Bradley wrote regarding the death of Angie, a 3E resident, touched many people, as I am sure was Bradley's intent. However, residents of 3E felt that guilt and a poor reputation are now placed upon them because of his words.
There were many good points made at the meeting, by both Bradley and residents from halls on Daisy Hill. Both the 3E community and Bradley acted with immense integrity in this situation. There were many opinions, perceptions and emotions brought out at this meeting and I believe that all parties have grown from it.
One thing that Bradley did affectively was make those of us who were not close to Angie learn something from her. The end of his editorial discussed how humans should be more compassionate and caring toward each other, and from the comments that were made about Angie proved that she was an exception. I regret that I did not know Angie, since she is so highly spoken of by 3E residents and her friends. I am sure that she would be glad to know that she helped to create the sense of unity and community that was exhibited by her floor last night.
Laura A. Bennett
Shawnee senior and
AURH president
Hyperbolic defense first not to offend
Andy Obermüller's column defending his hyperbolic, anger-inducing writing style is probably the first thing he's ever written that didn't piss
Michael Schmitt Harrisonburg, Va. graduate student
me off.
Considering your less than successful editorial urging Senate to refuse PAL's request for funding, maybe you should write an even more outrageous one opposing health care for GTAs.
Cheerleader acts offend reader
What I didn't understand is why the following sentence appeared in your list of hyperbole: "GTAs deserve health care about as much as Proponents of Animal Liberation deserves student senate funding." In my opinion, this cannot be overstated—as a member of PAL and GTACI agree wholeheartedly.
In my short time here, I've seen that the University of
When I came to Kansas from California, I expected to move to a more conservative part of the country. For the most part I have found this to be true. The common sense and openness of Kansans is refreshing. However, in attending KU football games, I am shocked to find the Midwest isn't as innocent as I'd imagined. When the band marches onto the field and begins playing, the cheerleaders dance as if they are in one of the topless bars found in the less desirable pars of Southern California.
Congratulations. Or should I say "better luck next time?" Your point is a good one, even if the editorial is far too self-promoting.
I don't necessarily agree that it's your job to make readers angry, but I agree that when you do, they ought to respond. You do a great job at rousing support for the groups, individuals and causes you oppose. While some see you as the Devil, I think of you more as an unwitting devil's advocate.
Kansas tries to promote respect for women. Yet, when those young ladies dress scantily and move in a lewd and suggestive manner, they're not appropriately representing the University's goals. I have been told many times by Kansans that California is going to fall into the ocean. I suppose this is because of the immorality of the populace. When I see the fans and administration condoning this seductive display by the cheerleaders, I wonder how far east the ocean will reach.
Sex advertisement ill conceived
I am writing in response to a full-page advertisement that encouraged "us" to "Wine her, dine her, and the rest will follow... dessert that is." The advertisement also invited us to "splurge a little," not in making an emotional and spiritual investment in intimacy, but instead solely to purchase instant sexual gratification. Ironically, this advertisement preceded a publication that informed its readers of the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases and the role of alcohol in acquaintance rape.
Jeremy McNeil Eureka, Calif., law student
This is not to say that one may not have a romantic dining experience at Paisano's or that there is anyone necessarily being forcefully coerced in this situation. Yet I ask, is exchanging a fine bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and a steaming plate of penne primavera for sexual favors not still a form of prostitution, even if it does not directly involve crisp dollar bills?
The amount of self-respect you choose to have is, of course, your own prerogative.
M. Patricia Hernández
Bucaramanga, Columbia senior