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
Sarah Scherwinki, Business manager Brian Pagel, Retail sales manager Dan Simon, Sales and marketing adviser Justin Knapp, Technology coordinator
4A.
Thursday, October 2, 1997
David Keith / KANSAN
Examining
Ticket pricing for Nebraska game has good intentions,bad results
Tickets to the Oct. 25 Kansas-Nebraska football game are more expensive than tickets to any other home football game. The special pricing discourages Nebraska fans from filling Memorial Stadium and could result in more Jayhawk fans in the stands.
Excluding tickets purchased through the student-package deal, all seats at the Kansas-Nebraska football game will be reserved. Additionally, tickets will cost $40 each, instead of the normal $26. If the purchaser buys a ticket to another game along with a Nebraska ticket, the Nebraska ticket costs $30, and the other ticket costs $26.
This pricing is hard on the stu.
dents who didn't purchase the entire ticket package and just want to attend a few games.
The Kansas-Nebraska game is a marquee contest. Nebraska fans, who travel across the country to watch their football team play, will be at the game in force no matter what they have to pay. Forcing them to buy the extra ticket will result in more empty seats at the other game they bought a ticket for and fewer opportunities for KU fans to attend the game.
It is unlikely that this policy, no matter how it may seem on paper, will keep rabid, red-wearing Nebraska fans from attending the game.
Similarly, KU fans who enjoy foot-
ball games will be willing to buy
tickets to the Nebraska game for $40. However, if they are already die-hard supporters of the Jayhawk football program, the two-ticket package is unlikely to be an incentive to attend another game. These fans will go to other games regardless, and bundling other tickets with reduced-rate Nebraska tickets is not an effective way to swell the stands of home football crowds.
the increased ticket price is an attempt to help KU football. But what it actually does is hurt fans who would otherwise be able to see a quality football game. Increasing ticket prices might help fill the coffers of the athletic department, but will do little to fill the rows of empty seats in Memorial Stadium.
Gerry Doyle for the editorial board
Animal dissection, research needed
Biological sciences at the University have been under intense scrutiny concerning the ethics of dissection and use of animals for research. Many students contend that the use of animals in dissection and research is against their own ethical code.
Dean Stetler, director of undergraduate biology, said the division of biological sciences tried to accommodate as many people as possible by offering alternatives to dissection. While an alternate lab section would be difficult because of the diverse beliefs of those who oppose dissection, Stetler said accommodations could be made on an individual basis
But this is not enough for the students who oppose dissection and ani
mal research on ethical grounds.
The question of what is ethical has been debated for centuries. But some students have defined ethics for all biology students by arguing for the removal of dissection and animal research in labs.
Stetler said that many of the most vehement protesters do not even take biology classes.
And for those who do, Stetler said that computer simulations and animal models were simplifications which often lacked details imperative for student understanding.
In addition, students do not have to take part in research involving animals. But many people have benefited from animal research one way or another. Without the use of real
biological research systems, vaccinations for small pox, rabies and polio would never have been possible. In addition, AIDS may never be cured without such research.
Dissection labs and animal research at the University are optional. The argument about the meaning of ethics and morality has been raging for centuries and will continue to do so, especially as science becomes more advanced in its understanding of biological systems and the best way to preserve those systems.
But people must be careful how they define what is ethical in the world of biological research and dissection. It may someday save their lives.
Nick Zaller for the editorial board
Kansan staff
News editors
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 . Neues clerk
Advertising managers
Matt Fisher ... Assistant retail
Michael Soifer ... Campus
Colleen Eager ... Regional
Anthony Migliarzo ... 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
Marc Harrell ... Senior account executive
Scott Swedlund ... Senior account executive
Broaden your mind: Today's quote
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science."
—Albert Einstein
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 columns: Should be double-
spaced typed with fewer than 700 words. The writer must be willing to be photographed for the column to run.
All letters and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-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 stuff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4810.
Reviewing
It's time to put down the drink and think
When I became a U.S. citizen, the federal judge who presided over the naturalization ceremony for my group of
aspiring Americans showered us with advice. I was so excited to hear him call me "fellow American," that I drank his very words.
In addition to welcoming us as citizens, he reminded us of our rights and responsibilities. The rights that the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights guarantee for all of us are widely known, as we claim them every day. The responsibilities, however, are rarely emphasized.
Donato
Fhunsu
dfhunsu@ukans.edu
"Live in a way that will uphold the American ideals and show others how to live in the same way," was the judge's intimation to all of us.
I cannot tell where my fellow Americans stand, but I have been thinking a lot about these words lately. I particularly thought about them when I received news that an 18-year-old Massachusetts Institute of Technology freshman, who had been in a coma, died Tuesday in a Boston hospital.
A member of a fraternity, he had been out drinking with other new pledges and when he was admitted into the hospital, the alcohol level in his blood was five times the legal driving limit. According to MIT officials, drinking, especially underage drinking, is as big a problem there as it is on other college campuses in the U.S.
This worries me for two main reasons. First, MIT has a brainy reputation. Say anywhere in the world, that you graduated from MIT, and you're worshiped as a demigod, or at least as a genius. Yet despite that, irresponsible partying and drinking are prevalent, according to the authorities there. Second, MIT is not even ranked as a "Party School,"—the University of Kansas is.
As a professional student, nothing bothers me more than irresponsibility and shallowness. This University is one of the best universities in the country and I take it for granted that students come here first and foremost to study (and hopefully learn). When they graduate, their degrees are in academic programs, not in partying.
I was, therefore, deeply insulted when, at the University-wide convocation at the beginning of this academic year, Chancellor Robert Hemenway greeted students with these words: "Hello, all you party animals!" Party animals? That was, to say the least, a very irresponsible and shallow way to set the tone for an academic year. By that time, the University had already been ranked No. 8 on the infamous list of party schools. Wasn't that bad enough? Wasn't the main task of our leader — Hemenway to correct this image? Does a KU student have to die for him to take this issue seriously?
Shortly after that, a student did die — at Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge. He died from alcohol intoxication, the result of binge drinking. The student was celebrating the beginning of the academic year at a "Party School" that was not even ranked as high as our University.
If schools such as LSU and MIT, which trail us in party acumen, suffer these tragedies, it would be responsible and wise to take a good look at our own party mentality, student responsibilities and citizen obligations.
Hemenway, administrators, faculty, staff and students, need to take this issue seriously and take all the necessary preventive measures now.
We need to re-examine our understanding of education. I propose that we view education not as the usual filling of the mind with knowledge (as attractive as this might appear), but as the controlled flooding of the entire life with understanding and wisdom, knowledge being only a stepping-stone on banks of that river. This is the only higher education that really makes sense.
The student's death seems to have propelled MIT to these higher levels. To the rhetorical question, "MIT has one of the smartest students and faculty in the world. How can such a thing happen here?" one MIT official answered, "We need to be not only smart, but also wise."
I do pray and hope that our University will take (the sooner the better) this hint from a school where, according to statistics, intelligence ranks higher — and partying ability lower — than the University of Kansas.
Fhunsu is an Lawrence graduate student in French.
Feedback
Headline offensive; objectifies women
As I glanced at the front page of the "Kansan" on my way to class Monday morning, one headline in particular grabbed my eye: "Nice Melons!"
Wondering what this could possibly be referring to, I looked at the photo underneath and, to my disgust, caught the joke. It was a photo of a woman sitting under a pile of watermelons with only her head visible.
The first thought that entered my mind was "Are they for real?" Most women I know can share stories of similar inuendo hurled from passing cars, fellow pedestrians or drunks at parties. But this is the first time it has been hurled from the front page of our college newspaper.
That headline is juvenile and demeaning. Demeaning to both the subject of the photograph and to all women on this campus.
When the "Kansan" makes the decision to print a headline like that, it contributes directly to the objectification of women.
Ironically, on the same day, the editorial board published a rebuke to the Bacchanalia mishaps that stated "reducing a woman to nothing more than a body ... is not positive for the chapters or the women on this campus."
The editorial went on to say that it should be recognized "that there is more to a woman than her bodily proportions ..."
Good idea. Too bad it didn't make it to the front page.
Abigael Birrell
Topeka freshman
Little evidence in Social Security letter
David J. Ekerdt, in the Sept. 24 issue of the "Kansan," again proved that not all of academia is concerned with using facts when discussing truth.
Ekerdt said that the Cato Institute has "found a twenty-something front writer to repeat well-worn canards" about Social Security. Webster's Dictionary
Among the canards Ekerdt lists: "Social Security is akin to an illegal ponzi scheme, the system is headed for a breakdown, and ... we'd all be better off in the stock market."
The claims made by Cato and other research groups are supported with evidence, yet Ekerdt offers no evidence to the contrary.
Ekerdt does make one interesting claim, however, when he writes that "Social Security is facing a financing problem, not a crisis."
defines a canard as "a false or unfounded report or story."
If this is true, then perhaps we could say that the Titanic faced and iceberg-avoidance problem, not a disaster. For more information on Social Security's impending disaster, contact the KUL libertarians.
Unfortunately for Mr. Ekerdt, Cato founded their case against the Social Security Administration with a mountain of evidence, much of which came from the Administration's own reports. Either Mr. Ekerdt doesn't know what he's saying or is insulting our intelligence.
Chris Wiswell
Lawrence 1997 KU graduate
Stop greek bashing; cover the real news
I am writing this in regard to the recent articles printed about the Sigma Nu serenading incident. As a member of one of the sororites involved, I must say that I'm appalled and frustrated by the amount of judgement the "Kansan" has thrown our way.
Mother Theresa didn't get this much coverage.
In the past week, the newspaper has printed four articles on this incident.
I do not understand why staff members, such as Ann Marchand, feel it their duty to act as the moral conscience for the entire Greek community. In this case, some of the information is not only inaccurate, but it is hardly newsworthy. It is trivial and misleading. The focus of the "Kansan," especially the front page, should remain on important and substantial issues.
In contrast to what the "Kansan" might believe, the greek community is full of diversity. How couldn't it be? In my sorority, there are about 150 women. Obviously, we all come from different backgrounds. We may be members of the same sorority, but that does not mean we share the same values, beliefs and decisions. We make our own choices and we deal with the consequences.
Let's talk about the issue at hand. Strippers and alcohol. You are right—they are hardly a wholesome duo. Nevertheless, the women you are chastising do not lack high moral standards. They are among some of the most scholarly, caring and genuine women I know. Their character should not be at stake because of one incident. This occurrence does not overshadow all of the admirable contributions these women have made within the Greek community and throughout campus. If you really want to attack someone's character, I challenge you to find more than a jello shot and a lap dancer.
Let's put things in perspective. Surely there are more important issues to write about. One of the University's greatest assets is that it is a liberal and broad-minded university. Respect people for the decisions they make. We're young adults, but that does not make us perfect or flawless. Who is?
Please dedicate your power of the press to genuine issues. These articles only create gossip, slander and petty chatter.
You might be interested in something my mom wrote to me after reading last week's article: "I can't believe the big-to-do that the "Kansan" has made of this issue. Guess I'm used to the Daily Illini of my era, where the headlines and news dealt with real issues, like ending the war in Vietnam."
Anne Ferraro Overland Park junior
4