Opinion
Kansan
Published daily since 1912
4A
Spencer Duncan, Editor Sarah Scherwinski, Business manager Lindsey Henry, Managing editor Brian Pagel, Retail sales manager Andrea Albright, Managing editor Dan Simon, Sales and market adviser Tom Eblen, General manager, news adviser Justin Knupp, Technology coordinator
Monday, October 6, 1997
David Keith/ KANBAN
Examining
Lack of racial, cultural diversity addressed by admissions office
When students decide to attend the University of Kansas, they should realize our University is not the multicultural mecca it is sometimes made out to be. To their credit, the officials in the office of admissions agree and are informing prospective students.
Although the number of minority students on campus this fall has risen to 10 percent from last year's almost nine percent, that number still tags the University as one of the least diverse schools in the Big 12.
While administrators may not like this fact, it's the truth. New students, specifically minority students, must be prepared possibly to be the only person of color in their classroom. They must be ready to seek out multicultural organizations and support
Days of falsely portraying University as a melting pot replaced with realistic view.
systems. In short, students will have trouble succeeding at the University if they are not ready to face this reality.
Within the last year, the office of admissions has tried to provide future Jayhawks with an accurate picture of the University's cultural diversity. Gone are contrived group photos in the viewbook which represent all races. Gone are campus visit days where minority students only meet African-American professors and hear from multicultural groups.
Robert Page, coordinator of multicultural recruitment, said that such practices made minority students assume that the University was full of people just like them. A high retention rate depends on correcting this perception.
Now, instead of attempting to convince minorities they will feel right at home on campus, these students are taught how to make the University feel like home.
The office of admissions is finally on the right track. Our lack of diversity is an undeniable fact and should not be misrepresented to incoming students. If we want to brag about our University's multicultural environment, we need to attract more minority students.
Megan Jordan for the editorial board
No need to fire Stanford columnist
Every newspaper should have a set of rules that it adheres to. However, when these rules interfere with the coverage of news that affects readers, they need to be changed. Censoring a columnist because he criticized the inconvenience of a first daughter moving into a residence hall is one such rule.
Jesse Oxfeld, a columnist for the "Stanford Daily" wrote a column about the massive problems Chelsea Clinton's move into Stanford housing caused. In addition to armies of Secret Service, the media flocked around what, in any other family, would be an ordinary event. The mass of people made it difficult for other students moving into dorms to go about their business. Seems to be
"Daily" columnist was fired because he wrote about Chelsea Clinton and her move.
a timely and pertinent topic to write about.
However, "Daily" editor Carolyn Sheeth had made a rule that Chelsea was not to be written about unless she did something newsworthy. She asked Oxfeld to revise his work, and when he refused, she refused to publish the column and fired him.
topic because she was well-known. He was pointing out that while Stanford was going out of its way to give Chelsea a "normal" college experience, "normal" students were suffering for it.
Ignoring newsworthiness because the subject is famous is an ignorant policy. Simply because a murder, a heroic action or an annoying disturbance is caused by a celebrity doesn't mean it should be overlooked.
The rules of the newspaper were there for a reason: To keep Chelsea from becoming a constant news item because of her father. But, the columnist wasn't using Chelsea as a
The column should not have been killed, and Oxfeld should not have lost his job. Keeping the news fresh and interesting is an admirable goal. But it should not come at the expense of keeping the readers informed of the world around them.
Gerry Doyle for the editorial board
Kansan staff
News editors
Bradley Brooks ... Editorial
Jason Strait ... Journalial
Jodie Chester ... News
Jen Smith ... News
Adam Darby ... News
Charity Jeffries ... Online
Kristie Blasi ... Sports
Tommy Gallagher ... Associate Sports
Dave Morantz ... Campus
Eric Westlander ... 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
Matt Fisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant retail
Michael Soifer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Campus
Colleen Eager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Regional
Anthony Migilazzo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . National
Jeff Auslander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marketing
Chris Haghirian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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
Mc Carrell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Senior account executive
Scott Swedlund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Senior account executive
Advertising managers
Broaden your mind: Today's quote
"Heard melodies are sweet,but those unheard are sweeter."
—John Keats, "Ode on a Grecian Urn"
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
All letters and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stuart-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 (jstraht@kansan.com) at 864-4810. If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page stuff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4810.
**Guest columns** Should be double-spaced typed with fewer than 700 words. The writer must be willing to be photographed for the column to run.
Feedback
If only you did some research, if only you came to speak to the 3E floor, if only you did not come across as a tabloid journalist, if only...
Angie Griffin died just a week ago today and you along with the "Kansan" had the insensitivity to publish lies about her death and attack the people who became her family just a little more than a month and a half ago. You had no right to assume that 3E did not care for her!
We did all we could. We were there for her the night before and obeyed her wishes to leave her alone. Are we supposed to call an ambulance every time we hear someone cough? She was sick, that is what sick people do. Were we supposed to ask her about her medical history and evaluate our ourselves even after she went to the doctor?
Column on student's death unneeded
How dare you accuse us of not asking if she was OK. We feel anything but guilt, Angie was a loss to us all and there is nothing we can do about her passing. The next time you feel the need to pick up a pen and start writing I suggest that you do the one thing that all good journalists do: Investigate.
Anglo Fischer Senton, Mo., freshman and Ellsworth 10th floor resident
Analie Fischer
If only Bradley Brooks knew Angie Griffin. If only Bradley Brooks knew the reality behind 3E. If only Bradley Brooks had been here to witness the pain and suffering that more than 80 people experienced on Friday, Sept. 6.
Bradley Brooks, imagine yourself walking into Ellsworth Hall on that morning. Police cars and ambulances out in front, people that know you live on the 10th floor hushing when you walk by, oblivious to the horror unfolding upstairs. Imagine boarding the elevator and pushing 10 only to have everyone stare at you like they know some dirty secret about you. Then imagine getting off that elevator and seeing your friends and roommates gathered in the lobby with tears swelling in their eyes, and a tremendous sinking feeling in your stomach as you hear that the person whom you just spoke with nights before is never coming back.
At first I was one of the people who was grateful for the coverage the "Kansan" lent toward Angie's death. It is true that when you hear news like this you want to tell everyone that you meet, whether you know them or not. The first thing that runs through your head is that they have to know about this person. They have to feel the same way. They have to mourn the same loss as I do.
How could I sit and read about how I (along with every other person on 3E) was being accused of contributing to the death of one of my one floormates and not get terribly upset? How am I supposed to react to your question of why didn't we care for her?
I think that the style of journalism that Angie Griffin's death was described in on Oct. 3 was inappropriate and out of line.
Well, I can only tell you what I know. I knew Angie Griffin as a smart, intelligent, determined individual. She was on the rowing team and was terribly proud of her accomplishments in that sport. At the same time, she was very nervous about her successes — not only in rowing, but in the classroom as well. From what I knew of her, and it is admittedly little, she was very very smart and aspired to work in the medicine profession.
The first time I met her I knew that she would be one of those people that would reach her dream. Her death was a shock to us all. On up 3E we are a close-knit community. We do a lot of things together that many other floors never would. I have made friends here in this short time who I am not afraid to say may stay with me my entire life. In fact, I hope many of them do.
What anger's me about your article is your accusations of us not caring for one our own floor-mates. From the time I first knew Angie Griffin I knew that she had taken sick from all the stress that she was under at the time. It was not uncommon for someone to ask if she were OK. I did on many occasions.
To sit there and tell me, a member of the very tight-knit community that you describe, that I did not do my part to help this poor girl and possibly save her life is, in my eyes, a very accustomary statement.
One that I feel you cannot make as you do not actually live here. Life inside 3E is like no other I have ever seen. And, while we may not have done what you think is right, I know that I was carrying on with my life as how I saw fit, doing all that I could.
I am writing in response to the horrible article by Bradley Brooks on the death of Angie Griffin.
Bryan Truths Overland Park freshman and Ellsworth 10th floor resident
I don't know that reading your article will inspire me to walk around and ask new friends their health histories, but rather it might make me think again when picking up a copy of the "Kansan" whether I really want to support a paper that is making me the guilty one.
In it he basically says that she would not have died had the residents on that floor done something to prevent her death. He is accusing them of murder.
I don't live on the 10th floor, but I have many friends on that floor and have been there numerous times. I have observed how close they are, and what they would do for each other. I know that they would have done anything to prevent Angie's death. They all felt the blow from her passing and are still in shock. I was appalled when I opened the paper and read such an accusatory article.
I though the "Kansan" was above such vulgar yellow journalism. It seems the paper was hurting for space and needed something to fill in a blank spot. So they chose Brooks' piece. A big mistake. I have spoken to people in 3E and they feel the same way about the editorial. I feel an apology should be issued to all of the 3E residents in the Monday paper. A blank space would have been better than the editorial.
Robert Reddig Kansas City, Mo., freshman
I know that it is perhaps easy, even perversely pleasurable, for you to try and lay blame on the residents of 3E to rectify this situation in your mind and in the minds of others.
You are so far removed from the pain of losing Angle... I want you to know that many of us have had a tough time with this tragedy. For most of the residents, this is the first time they're dealing with the death of a friend, a socioeconomic peer with the same demographics and hopes and dreams. You mentioned we might be carrying a lot of guilt. I am sure if you would have run into the room of a recently healthy, vital friend to find she had passed from this life, you would have questioned, even blamed yourself for feeling so helpless.
I would like for you to know that I harbor a respect for all kinds of writers, even tactless, immoral "Kansan" journalists like yourself.
I, for one, admit that I played your same, petty little blame-game for a while. I blamed myself, her neighbors, then Watkins Memorial Health Center, and I have decided that laying blame is useless and creates tension and grudges.
Angie did not believe in laying blame. She did not understand why people held grudges. She believed that life was too precious to waste time nit-picking and rehashing the past.
The truth of the matter is, Bradley, a group representing 3E went to Angie's funeral and we have just recently gained some peace of mind and can now sleep through most nights. This is traumatic for all involved, and I feel that for Angie's and her friends' sakes, you need to can the "if only" speculation and have some respect.
Emily Vleoyre Marysville freshman and Ellsworth 10th floor resident
The editorial you wrote entitled "Campus deaths possibly preventable with care" is the most uninformed, tactless pieces of journalism I have ever laid eyes upon. Here is a quote from you: "Like most journalists, I search for truth and meaning by using words. I want to
Excuse me? Did you write this article based on factual information? No! You took a few random, chopped up quotes from various articles concerning Angie Griffin's death and decided that quoting them made you a truthful journalist. Did it even cross your mind to talk to the people who live on her floor?
uncover the reality of what is happening around me and pass it on."
You were correct on one thing — the people on 3E are really tight and we did everything we should have done considering the circumstances. As a close-knit group of people, we were very concerned about Angie's illness. We heard her coughing, but she was sick, so of course she was going to cough. We continually asked her if she was doing all right. She even came into the hall in the middle of the night, and we showed our concern then and insisted to help. I cannot believe you printed this article one week after Angie's tragedy. Many of the people on our floor — good, caring friends of Angie's — just got back from her funeral on Thursday.
Just one week ago we were watching an ambulance pull up to our residence hall, take away our friend and crying our eyes out because no one had anything to offer by way of an explanation. We relive those moments everyday. Of course we wondered if there was anything that could have been done to prevent her death, but through talking to medical professionals and back-tracking our events from that terrible morning, we are assured that we did everything right.
I cannot believe you are slapping us in the face with this. You don't have any facts, and you have no right to implicate 3E in the tragic death of our friend. I know that Angle is looking down on us, seeing our grief and understanding that her friends and floormates did everything they could to save her.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
Ashley Hutcheson
Houston, Mo., freshman
and Ellsworth 10th
floor resident
All of the information that you received has been in the newspapers. What you don't know is that there are other 10th floor residents who did something that was not quoted in the newspaper. One of your sentences in this disgusting article also stated "And if no one on this floor had asked if she needed help — and insisted on that help — then it is highly unlikely that anyone would have."
Mr. Brooks, I have to respect everyone's opinion, but my opinion is that your article was trash. Not only do you not live on the 10th floor of Elsworth Hall, you were not there to witness the tragic events.
Although I would like to use vulgar remarks to comment on this article. I will not.
Mr. Brooks, you were not there to see if anything could have been done. Therefore, in my opinion, your opinion is garbage.
"Why in the hell didn't they help her," you said to yourself. Your comments came from articles in the paper, but you had no eyewitness accounts. You say that her death could of been prevented. Well Princess Diana's death could of been prevented if journalists such as yourself, always trying to make a story out of what isn't, hadn't followed her.
The most disgusting thing about this is that you are supposed to be a mature senior. The students of this floor are freshmen who just lost someone. And you are too shallow to see that. Blame it on the residents. They are already hurting inside, so you try to add more hurt. Your attempt to try to wound the already wounded heart of the 10th floor was unsuccessful. All you did was make a lot of students, who were trying to get on with their lives, angry. I hope you are proud of that.
Let me ask you a question.
Were you there? Were you up in the early morning hours of Friday to see that no one indeed asked her for help or insisted on it. No you were not. And to comment on students and say they didn't do anything is very sad.
Marion Marshall
St. Louis, Mo., freshman
and Ellsworth 10th
floor resident
.