Thursday, September 23, 1976
University Daily Kansar
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Opinions on this page reflect the view of only the writer.
Promises, promises
Campaign, campaign everywhere, and no one stops to think. Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter aren't outlining their positions and making their differences
I'm not talking about tailoring their speeches to fit their audiences. That's expected. I'm talking about their efforts to promise everything—efforts and promises that obscure the differences between the two candidates.
FOR EXAMPLE, Jimmy Carter and the Democratic platform promised federal job and housing programs. Carter favored the Humphrey-Hawkins bill to greatly lower unemployment. He favored a system of comprehensive health care, substantially financed by the federal government.
the federal government.
One assumes he still holds these positions, but now there is no way to be sure, because Carter has said he won't increase social spending if it keeps him from balancing the budget.
What? There hasn't been a balanced budget for decades, and the only way to balance it is to cut spending or raise taxes. Carter says he wants some small defense cuts because they won't come close to balancing the budget. Will Carter really delay social programs several years to balance the budget?
CARTER MADE his position unclear again this week. He said he would shift tax burdens away from those below the median family income to those above the median, fortunately, the declined in exact figure above which he would raise taxes.
the statement was a mistake. Because Carter wasn't prepared to give
with a cutoff figure, he really didn't tell the voters much. And the Republicans, who jumped on the mistake, made things more confused. Sen. Bob Dole, noting that the median family income is between $12,000 and $15,000, said Carter would raise taxes for more than half of American families.
Carter thus was forced to say he had a cutoff figure more like $2,500 in mind. But why didn't he say this in the first place?
DON'T THINK Carter is the only one responsible for the low quality of campaign rhetoric. Conservative Gerald Ford has set goals of lower unemployment, more houses and lower taxes.
Ford did specify how many jobs he hopes to create each year, but he didn't tell how he plans to keep this year's unusually high job-creation rate going. He didn't say whether job creation would spur new inflation, or to what lengths he would go to meet these goals.
AND HOW can Ford promise a balanced budget when he favors higher defense spending and he knows Congress will keep increasing social spending despite his vetoes? How does he squash his liability with his recent proposal for an additional $10 billion tax cut for low and middle income families?
The American people deserve to know where the candidates stand, and where they differ. One hopes the reporters in tonight's debate demand the sort of answers needed if the people are to make a reasoned choice Nov. 2.
By Greg Hack Contributing Writer
Ingenuity wins campus passes
Within each of the four traffic booths around the University of Kansas campus are hidden, in the form: a campus passes passe.
Jaworski tells his story
Reading Leon Jaworski's just-published book is like licking an tooth. It hurts, but you can't stop. In this book, the author of the Watergate year, it all comes painfully back.
Jaworski is the tough old Texas turkey who served as special prosecutor for the Watergate trials. He stepped into the office late in October 1973, across the bloody floor of the Saturday Night Massacre. He served for four years, demanding and dramatic assignments ever assigned a lawyer. In "The Right and the Power," he tells his story.
Nixon's innocence; and he stayed to see that illusion cruelly shattered.
SOME JADED critics may be inclined to dismiss Jaworski's work as merely one more example of the wrongness that has a grousing shelf full. I found his account rewarding—partly because the law is my beat—but also because he also has experience that saddened many others. He came to Washington with an illusion of Richard
Jaworski's deflowering came on a morning in December 1973, when he listened for the first time to the famous tape of Nixon's conversation with John Dean and his wife, Rita, during March 21. The experience left him badly shaken. In the privacy of his office, he could not escape a stunning conclusion: "The President of
(c) 1976 Washington Star Syndicate, Inc.
the United States had without doubt engaged in highly improper practices, in what appears to be criminal practices”
James J. Kilpatrick
"I HAD not come to Washington expecting this. I had expected to find all sorts of wrongdoing by his aides, conduct unbecoming and even criminal, but it had never occurred to me that the President was in the driver's seat . . .
Listening to him scheme, knowing he was the President of the United States, I felt as if my heart was shriveling inside of me.
Jaworski was compelled by the nature of his job to sit on this damning evidence. Seven months would elapse before the public would have access, not to the witness in court, but reasonably accurate transcripts of the tapes. Even the most accurate transcript, he suggests, cannot adequately convey the shocking contrast between the public Nixon, projecting a polished white face, and the public Nixon, profanely plotting with his aides.
"LISTENING and relisting to the tapes, I was amazed at the inordinate amount of time they consumed. I often wondered how Nixon wasikon was to concentrate even birthright into a begged for his attention. There he was in the Oval Office, day after day, night after night, schenizing, plotting, and finally sacrificing
his staff and others, one by one,
so as to save himself. It was a sordid, frightening drama.
Jaworski's task was to coordinate the prosecution of the Watergate defendants and he notably the remorseful Egil Krogh, won his sympathy; most of the others earned only his disdain. Jaworski is a lawyer's friend. He was one of the American Bar Association. What hurt especially was that so many of the defendants also knew their officers awn to uphold the law. He had small pity for them.
TOWARD the end of his stay, Jaworski ran into harsh criticism on two counts—that he had not moved swiftly, after Nixon's August resignation, to obtain a pension. He was President; and that he had not challenged Gerald Ford's September pardon. His lawyer's explanation makes sense. He was convinced that Nixon couldn't possibly have obtained a fair trial until months or years later, was satisfied, after examining the precedents, that Ford's pardon was fully within the presidential power.
One athlete happy
I wish to emphasize the word "some" in the front page article in Monday's Kansan headlined "Some women athletes still unhappy."
To the Editor:
I have participated in the KU women's intercollegiate athletic program for three years. My experience has been with the track and cross country programs, and they have continuously improved in quality.
I remember visiting KU four years ago and observing the first women's track team coached by Marian Washington. The experience led to my participation on the first KU women's cross country team the next fall.
Published at the University of Kansas August 18, 2015
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The only member of the team who actually enjoyed distance running. The courage of several other team members, and were actually sprinters, reminded me of a true pioneer spirit.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
Editor
strolling to class rather painful. Find a pair of crutches. Put a sock over the one foot and roll the other foot up the side of the visible. Sit on the passenger side of the front seat with the crutches and injured foot plainly at the traffic booth, stairs blankly through the windshield.
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This, strangely, has offended "some" of the women athletes. Most of the "some" who voiced their opinions in Monday's article appear to be prejudiced against male coaches.
I have witnessed many changes in the women's athletic program at KU, and they have all been changes for the better. The coaching staff of the women's racquet team has been frequently. This, too, always has led to improvements, and this year we have an excellent coach, who is male.
We probably will have no ene of the writing of Watergate books. At least twenty volumes of these books may be memoirs are yet to come from General Al Hag and of course from Nixon himself. Jaworski's book makes a significant contribution to this historian's collection.
As special prosecutor, he was chiefly responsible for the criminal side of the story. He knew his power to put the defendants in the dock. Jaworski is fully entitled, as a prosecutor, to have the authority to disgrieve events he disclosed, there can be no pride at all.
Perhaps if some of the athletes complaining would concentrate on their own performances more, they would probably be able to step side-by-side responsibility. Personally, I can't understand how athletes can complain so much if they're busy training. Most athletes' physiques need more exercise than their muscles.
If I haven't conveyed my satisfaction with the program by now, I mention that I perceive myself as a better program. I can't believe that some women in the program expect a plateau of perfection to be reached in a few short years. The program will never stop growing.
Heidi Wallace
Tonganoxie junior
Supposedly, these passes are reserved for visitors or students who have dire emergencies on campus that require them to drive through controlled areas. As of this year, I’ve seen students scheme, weasle, beg, whine and to get a pass, in complete disregard of the rigid regulations that the university or the gummy mess they leave on the left corner of a windshield.
Letters to the editor are welcomed but should be typewritten, double-spaced and no longer than 400 words. All letters are edited and may be condensed according to space limitations and the editor's rules. Letters must be signed; KU students must provide their academic standing and homecity; faculty must provide their position; others must provide their address.
Letters Policy
AT TIMES, campus courtyards passes are invainable. You know. Almost everyone can recall an instance when one friend goes to the library handily. What other solution is there when you finish typing a paper five minutes before it's due, wake up five minutes after class begins or need a homework to get all you books to school?
But these excuses aren't good enough to merit passes. There's an art to coaxing passes from the people who keep them well out of reach in the traffic bottleneck, and then them (1) you truly are a visitor or (2) you truly have an emergency.
Establishing that you're a visitor isn't easy, and you'd better forget it if you have a KU registration sticker on your car. Freshmen are lucky to have cool students, they may have a chance. If seniors can look like middle-aged parents, the odds are in.
their favor. And it always helps if you have an out-of-state license tag, a decal from some manufacturer, a turnip window, a turnip stub on the dashboard, clothes hanging on a rack across the back seat and one grandmother, or both, but never, a wear K U T-shirt, and always
Mary Ann Daugherty Contributing Writer
remember to pitch your books under the front seat.
EXPERIENCE has taught that the most workable gimmicks arise from playing on the dire emergency excuse. Here are a few that have been known to work:
Pretend you're an art major. Wedge a box in the trunk so you won't close completely. The it down with a string. Make the knot as complicated as possible so you won't be asked to display it. Don't let your kids Rumple your clothing, Women should snuggle their ma-cara, men should go unshaven to give the aura of having pulled an all-nighter. Upon toking up to the traffic booth, tell the person in charge you have just spent a couple of hours on a 39-pound Maltese cross that must be delivered to Strong Hall.
Pretend you've recently suffered a severe ankle injury, which, of course, makes
Rest one hand limply in your lap. Let a pencil roll around in your outstretched palm. Let a friend drive you and do all the talking, explaining you must take a test, although doctors at Hospital that have recommended that you be in traction.
PRETEND you're on some mission for the University. It can be almost anything, from a laboratory equipment to picking up camping gear, typewriters or paperwork. The key is an air of authenticity, and your business needs the bureaucracy. Greet the traffic controller as if he is a colleague. State your business matter-of-factly. Get indignant with a request for a pass is denied.
The possible excuses are limitless if born of creative minds and sincere desires to get on campus. Snow jobs or just saying "please" rarely work, so it's a good idea to have props,
back-up excuses and well-rehearsed lines that include names, dates and phone numbers. If you feel the need, take a picture, but not, but don't let the traffic personnel see you cross your fingers.
Also, never forget that this is a risky business. You cannot forge a campus pass. Some people I know have legitimately received passes but have tried to extend their time in the university. This can be easily detected and is punishable.
It's true mononucleosis is a prolonged illness, but don't try to use it as an excuse two consecutive semesters. Also, if this is your excuse, don't let the traffic controller see you sprint into some building as soon as you get on campus.
MOST CAMPUS passes are good for about 15 minutes. Plan your mission accordingly. Make friends who can be persuaded to drop you off and drive your car home.
It always happens. As certain as high heat and humidity during enrollment, the perennial question is asked during the first day of classes. No matter that there are a hundred different varieties ranging from able to the first few minutes but it will be asked.
Never go to the same traffic both twice in the same week. You don't want to be recognized. Besides, you'll get more mileage out of one excuse if you take it to all four boots.
"Do we have to come to class?"
WELL, THERE it is. And the longer I teach, the more I can get used to it. What should one say in response? "You have straightforward way," "Yes, you do. By the way, do you have your time card?" Or, "Certainly not. As a matter of fact, we will need you." Have you to save oil, you know. It's been nice to know you. Best of luck."
Most important, remember that the traffic controllers aren't fools. They've become wise to a lot of excuses and a lot of good actors. That is what doubt you can always drive to behind Wesco Hall without laying your life on the line.
But there must be something beyond sarcasm—perhaps understanding? To that end, I offer the following thoughts.
For one, it is unfortunate that we faculty members haven't done a better job of conveying to our students the notion that there is a great promotion present and future rewards. This has always been one of the most frustrating problems of education. Without clear expectations of future benefits from this performance, it is more difficult for students to become motivated.
A
Ib
Class attendance is worthwhile
By PHII, MCKNIGHT
THUS TO a student in Geography 105, attendance may not seem important, let alone mandatory. Or it may seem more useful to an English 101 student to spend an evening at a disdainteque than in the library reviewing the material. The book contained in Stephen Crane's "The Blue Hotel."
perience. If one wishes to learn how to play golf, he can simply read about it. He must play golf.
On the other hand, isn't there something to be said for at least entertaining the idea that classes, or more accurately, involvement in classes, is worthwhile? From a psychological perspective, there is no substitute for *v*
FURTHERMORE, there is no substitute for the expertise of the teacher. Granted, some classes are more repetitions of the material that a student probably would gain more from a well-prepared text. But the potential for learning often is enhanced if the student attends the class. For example, dialogue permits clarification of ambiguous concepts. Even digressions are often serendipitous.
The classroom provides an opportunity for clarification,
Perhaps a valid indication of the value of the class is to be seen in the results of a recent survey taken by the University of Mid America, which indicated that an overwhelming majority of students some sort of interaction with the teacher. I suggest that the academic classroom is one of the sources of such interaction.
elaboration, and justification, of ideas. Such activities are perhaps the best opportunities to learn.
(Phil McKnight is an associate professor of curriculum and instruction.)