Opinion
Kansan
Published daily since 1912
Ann Premer, Editor Jamie Holman, Business manager Gerry Derry, Managing editor Sara Cropper, Retail sales manager Angie Kuhn, Managing editor Dan Simon, Sales and marketing adviser Tom Eblen, General manager, news advisor Justin Krupp, Technology coordinator
Tuesday, January 19, 1999
Robert James Novak / KANSAN
Editorials
Holiday celebrates King's dream, not just life of civil rights leader
Monday was not meant to be just the celebration of one man.
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday was meant to remember not just a man, but a struggle and a vision.
Coretta Scott King, Martin Luther's widow, once said, "I want people to remember my husband, but he would want people to remember the message."
King's messages cannot be summed up in a sentence or paragraph. He stood atop the country and called down that freedom must ring for everyone, despite color, creed or sex. From a moral platform he pledged that equality could be reached through non-violent means.
He reminded a country that open discussion and compromise can heal it.
And in the years since he was shot down in Memphis in 1968, progress has been made in the mold of King's dream
More racial minorities are elected to public offices, businesses promote diversity in their policies and training programs, most companies are integrated, and more people of color fill high-level positions.
King's vision of racial equality and tolerance should be practiced year-round.
However, there are remnants of the race-based ugliness of King's time, such as last year in Jasper, Texas, when a black man was dragged to death by white men in a pickup truck.
But yesterday, no blacks were denied the right to vote and no public officials blocked black students from schoolhouse doors.
However, racial tensions and racist attitudes persist, and Martin Luther King, Jr's day is a reminder that people died, suffered and struggled so others could be afforded the rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution and given to every human being simply because
they are alive.
Yesterday should have been a time to ask if we have come far enough. Are there enough Asian professors, female administrators and Latin students on Mount Oread? Are minorities treated fairly by local court systems? And, late at night, when walking home, does the sight of a black man walking across campus still raise fear that the man might be dangerous, simply because of an old stigma that persists in many minds?
Yesterday was for asking questions, but the days between each holiday are meant to work on solving these problems.
King was not the only individual who fought bravely against racial and class injustice. But no one captured the attention of a nation and brought so many together like Dr. King.
And King's holiday continues to remind us that we all will suffer, "...until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream."
Spencer Duncan for the editorial board
Political mood needs feminine spin
The upcoming presidential campaign needs a boost in the form of a qualified female candidate.
Elizabeth Dole should officially join the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Not only is she qualified, but she could transform the campaign trail and tune in idle voters.
Dole offers a familiar name with a pretier face. American politics needs a new face and a new twist to entice all voters. Low voter turnout has plagued America in recent elections and suggests an overall apathetic attitude towards government
As the impeachment trial continues to interrupt daytime television, Americans have become increasingly disgusted with
Dole's run for GOP nomination could pave the way for voters, women in politics.
the standard partisan "Bill vs. the GOP" babble. Time magazine argues that a new political atmosphere is forming, one in which a woman candidate would be a breath of fresh air.
Her qualifications allow gender to be a non-issue. However, gender cannot be ignored when it comes time for political strategy. There will be factors not previously dealt with at play if Dole enters the race, and it will also be an indicator of where our society stands in gender equality.
Dole is a qualified woman with the resources to make a legitimate bid at the Republican nomination. Her professional resume speaks for itself, president of the American Red Cross, Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Labor, and employment with the Federal Trade Commission.
A Time/CNN poll showed 60 percent of those surveyed have a favorable impression of Dole.
This is not about endorsing Dole's political platform, but instead endorsing her qualifications to lead our country. There is a need for a professional woman to step forward and blaze a trail for others who will aspire to be the President of the United States.
Kansan staff
Katrina Hull for the editorial board
Ryan Koerner • Editorial
Jeremy Doherty • Associate Editorial
Aaron Marvin • News
Laura Roddy • News
Melissa Ngo • News
Aaron Knopf • Online
Erin Thompson • Sports
Mark Sheforden • Associate sports
Chris Fickett • Campus
Sarah Hale • Campus
T.R. Miller • Features
Steph Brewer • Associate features
Augustus Anthony Piazza • Photo
Chris Dye • Design, graphics
Carl Kaminski • Wire
Carolyn Mollett • Special sections
Laura Veazey • news clerk
Advertising managers
News editors
Matt Lopez ... Special Sections
Jennifer Patch ... Campus
Micah Kaftiz ... Regional
Jon Schlitt ... National
Tyler Cook ... Marketing
Shannon Curran .. PR/Intern manager
Christa Estep ... Production
Steven Prince ... Production
Chris Corley ... Creative
Jason Hannah ... Classified
Corinne Buffmire ... Zone
Shauntae Blue ... Zone
Brandi Byram ... Zone
Brian Allers ... Zone
Justin Allen ... Zone
Broaden your mind: Today's quote
“Education is not a product mark, diploma, job money — in that order; it is a
process, a never-ending one.”—Bel Kaufman
**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.
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.
How to submit letters and guest columns
Challenges, mission await Kansan editor
Perspective
All letters and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Staufer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Ryan Koerner or Jeremy Doherty at 864-4924.
Every semester, the editor shares the blueprints of the Kansan. It's sort of a territorial thing, and now it's my turn. Here's a little bit of Kansan history for you. During World War II, the Kansan had three
Although there was a common theme about serving the reader and the Kansan being both a professional and learning environment, each group offered a different insight. We now have a committee of 11 staff members, including the managing editors and me, that will collaborate and create a mission statement for the Kansan.
To ensure that the entire staff is working toward a common goal and vision, we are working on a mission statement. Jan. 12 was the staff's first meeting, and we split into six groups to brainstorm. After each group had composed a statement, we read them aloud to the entire staff.
consecutive women editors. That was the longest streak of women editors until this semester. This semester marks the first time that four women successively have served as the editor. My predecessors set a strong example as leaders and now have moved on to other endeavors.
If you have general questions or comments,
e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com)
or call 864-4924.
Ann
Premer
editor@kansan.com
Lindsey Henry, the 1998 Spring editor, now is a White House intern. She works for the Office of the
Our mission statement is intended to encourage us and help us provide better coverage of the KU campus and the city of Lawrence. From readership surveys, we know that we are the main source of news for many students, and we are proud to provide that service for the University community. You are the reason we write, and the Kansan always has an open door policy to its readers.
If we are doing something right, did something wrong, or you just want to talk with us, drop us a letter, send us an e-mail, give us a call, or come by the newsroom. We would love to hear from you.
Press Secretary and sits about 20 feet away from the Oval Office. I'm going to visit her in April, and supposedly she is going to take me on a "special" White House tour. I think I'll leave my blue dress at home.
I'll have to go out there so I can reap the benefits of free lodging. She will work as a copy editor at the small daily newspaper and hopes to hit the slides several times a week.
Jodie Chester, who was the editor last semester, has moved to Philadelphia where she is working as a copy editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer. The city's claim to fame is a cracked bell and a greasy sandwich. I have a friend who grew up in Philly and thinks that it is the greatest place in the world, but he left it
But with each semester comes a fresh group of reporters, copy editors, designers, photographers and their editors. Although many have worked for the Kansan before, most are serving in new capacities.
all behind to study at the University of Kansas.
all behind to study at the University of Kansas. The great thing about working at the Kansan are the friends you make. Inevitably but sadly, many of the people with whom I have spent my Kansan career with are gone.
Premier is a McPherson senior in journalism and the Spring 1999 Kansan editor.
New ass(ociate) forgoes free films, Mom's cookies
Severing old ties is never a simple task, so I'm making it easy on myself this year and only doing it three times.
For one thing, I've left behind my cushy spot as the Kansan movie critic, a position I'd held for the past three semesters, in favor of work on the opinion desk. No longer will I attend free screenings or mic-
turate on the products of a bloated, unimaginative and out-of-touch Hollywood.
My replacement, Brendan Walsh, begins work this week. Be patient; he's not likely to be as cranky, sarcastic or negative as yours truly.
In other words, he may actually like a movie from time to time. I just wanted to prepare Kansan readers for that inevitable shock.
Jeremy Doherty
opinion@ kansan.com
This doesn't mean that the fans of my reviews (all four of them) will suddenly go into Doherty Withdrawal. Indeed, I intend to apply my same nitpicky, anal-retentive tone to the opinion page and its diverse, intelligent staff.
Our editorial staff is comprised of columnists, cartoonists and an editorial board whose experience ranges from immense to minuscule.
But bear in mind that this page belongs to you, the KU students. Without the submission of guest columns, cartoons and letters, the opinion page would resemble a great void.
A great void is a fine way to describe my bedroom at my parents' home, which leads to the second tie I've severed: moving away from Mom and Dad.
Until recently, my life has consisted of the following: a full class load, a part-time job, and a home nearly 30 miles from campus in glorious Olathe. The first few semesters of this arrangement went smoothly enough, but I'd grown irritated lately with the daily commute from Johnson County to Lawrence and the resulting limits it placed on my contact with friends and the KU campus.
I have no complaints about my parents' house. It has served me well these 21 years. Where else am I guaranteed a comfy bed, hot meals and about 10 premium cable channels? In true June Cleaver fashion, my mother still bakes cookies. Whenever my rickety Oldsmobile throws me for a loop, Dad's there with his toolbox and grab bag of Midwestern proverbs.
A few years ago, my dear old dad splice the family cable box, and poof! I had CNN, MSNBC and the Home Shopping Network pumped into my bedroom.
Ah, but those 10 premium channels tried to hold me back with their nurturing, all-loving fruit: movies. Hour after hour of glorious movies beckoned and taunted me. It was difficult, being the film geek that I am, but I resisted their charms.
My brain began to frolic with the images of independent living: facial stubble, unkempt hair and a pot belly fed by a
But Mom and Dad tossed a kink into this joyous fantasy.
steady diet of pot pies and Gorditas.
"What about cable?" they demanded, sounding like those well-meaning parents who can't help but support their kids' crack habit.
Cable? I laughed. Did Paul Bunyon need cable? Did Abe Lincoln tune into the Weather Channel before chopping down his dad's cherry tree?
I think not. It was cold turkey time for this film geek.
After a week of poking around Lawrence, I found a nice little joint a couple blocks from the KU campus. Imagine my pleasure when my soon-to-be roommate confirmed the presence of cable TV in the apartment.
Panic swept over me, drenching my forehead in perspiration and sapping the strength from my knees. My eyes swam in a sea of red, and my teeth chattered. I hadn't felt that weak and hopeless since Dances With Wolves stomped GoodFellas at the 1990 Oscars.
My plight is the stuff of great tragedy. I think, or even a TV movie-of-the-week. One thing's certain: It won't belong on cable.
As said, I'm experiencing the pangs of withdrawal. In the one week without my drug of choice, I've worn out three pairs of batteries for my Walkman, and I've plowed through more than 400 pages of a crime novel that I'd been putting off for months.
Was I happy? If Hunter S. Thompson had found a new way to introduce cocaine into his system, he couldn't have been more elated.
Amused? Indeed, we are not. And watching cable in the living room clearly was out of step with my refined upbringing in Johnson County, a.k.a. The Land of Minivans.
Plugging the 13-inch set into the wall, my dad came to the distressing realization that my bedroom wasn't wired for cable. Even worse, channel after channel revealed nothing but a wall of unrelenting static.
The big move was planned for the first weekend of January and went without a hitch. Then again, I bet my new neighbors enjoyed the tragic/comic spectacle of my dad and I forcing a queen-sized mattress through a too-narrow stairwell. 2
Before I hand over the movie critic job to Brendan, I thought it only fitting to get in my predictions for this year's Oscar race.
Severed Tie No. 3, the worst yet, had presented itself.
As though it weren't obvious enough, the war-is-heLL-but-aIN't-gric grand Epic Saving Private Ryan will win trophies for Best Picture and Director along with a mess of technical awards, including those for cinematography, editing and sound.
As expected, the most innovative, challenging films of 1998 — The Thin Red Line, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Happiness — will end up playing bridesmaid to Steven Spielberg's bride.
The injustice of it all is sickening.
Ah, the hell with it. At least the awards show won't be on cable.
Dokerty is an Olatte senior in journalism and the Spring 1999 associate editorial editor.