Opinion
Kansan
4A
Published daily since 1912
Jodie Chester, Editor Marc Harrell, Business manager Gerry Doyle, Managing editor Jamie Holman, Retail sales manager Ryan Koerner, Managing advisor Dan Simon, Sales and marketing adviser Tom Eblen, General manager, news adviser Justin Knapp, Technology coordinator
Tuesday, December 8,1998
Editorials
Less fortunate citizens deserving of students' help during holidays
As the holiday season approaches, it is important not to let material things get the best of us.
The typical things most people associate with this time of year usually do not include service or donations, even though this is supposed to be a season of giving. Unfortunately, what some do not realize is that this is not limited to giving to family or friends; rather, it also should include giving of ourselves to those less fortunate in the community.
Poverty and homelessness in the United States are difficult to measure. Although accurate statistics are scarce, one survey conducted in 1990 by the National Coalition for the Homeless showed that 7 million people had been homeless at one point in
People can help in Lawrence or in their own communities when they go home.
their lives. This figure, astounding as it is, may mean little to many of us because it's a problem few University students experience.
Within the Lawrence community alone, there are several opportunities to give of yourself. The United Way of Douglas County is one prominent example. This organization offers clothing, food and even job training, among other services, to those less fortunate. All the charitable organizations available are too numerous to list; nonetheless, these organizations
include national and local institutions such as the Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross and Women's Transitional Care Services. We can't make the excuse that we won't be here to help out; there are opportunities during winter break at home.
Moreover, if donations aren't possible because of finances, take a little time and volunteer. Jubilee Café, at the Trinity Episcopal Church, 1011 Vermont St., serves breakfasts to homeless people twice a week and is a wonderful example of charity in the Lawrence community.
As college students, many of us are lucky enough to live a comfortable lifestyle. Any bit of help we can give is the most loving gift we can give.
Chris Borniger for the editorial board
Butts turn campus into ash tray
But our campus is being defaced by the number of cigarette butts being left on the ground by inconsiderate smokers. In our alma mater, we sing the praises of our home on the Hill. But the words to the song may soon need to be changed to reflect the Hill's current condition.
The University of Kansas receives consistent praise for the beauty of its campus. The splendor of Mount Oread has helped many students to the University, as well as accolades from National Geographic as one of the most beautiful campuses in the country.
"Not far from the golden trash can, saddening to view.
Lies an ignoble cigarette butt.
Woes this business?
Lies an ihighone cigarette butt.
Was this done by you?
Lift your butts ever upward.
Protect the crimson and the blue.
Our campus, one of the most beautiful in the country, is littered with cigarettes.
If the problem were limited to a few smokers leaving all their cigarette butts on the ground, it would not be noticeable. Unfortunately, the problem is that hundreds of smokers throw one or two to the ground every day, causing a buildup all across campus.
of the day before.
Like any other form of littering, throwing one little cigarette butt on the grass or a sidewalk is a crime. More importantly, though, it is a form of littering that is easy to avoid. A cigarette butt can't be recycled, so looking for the proper receptacle to place it in is not a problem. The only thing that might outnumber the cigarette butts on campus is the trash cans in which to place them.
Who is left to pick up the stubs when student and faculty smokers don't throw them away? Groundskeepers must patrol the campus every morning, picking up the unnecessary waste
The campus also would benefit if the number of cigarette butts left on the ground were reduced at the source, and students and faculty smoked less. In the meantime, though, smokers in the KU community should help keep campus attractive by putting their butts in the can.
Kansan staff
Ronnie Wachter for the editorial board
Ann Premer . . . Editorial
Tim Harrington . . Associate Editorial
Aaron Marvin . . News
Gwen Olson . . News
Aaron Knopf . Online
Matt Friedrichs . Sports
Kevin Wilson . Associate sports
Marc Sheforgen . Campus
Laura Roddy . Campus
Lindsey Henry . Features
Bryan Volk . Associate features
Roger Nomer . Photo
Corie Waters . Photo
Angie Kuhn . Design, graphics
Melissa Ngo . Wire
Sara Anderson . Special sections
Laura Veazey . news clerk
News editors
Stacia Williams ... Assistant retail
Brandi Byram ... Campus
Micah Kaffiz ... Regional
Ryan Farmer ... National
Matt York ... Marketing
Stephanie Krause ... Production
Matt Thomas ... Production
Traci Meisenheimer ... Creative
Tenley Lane ... Classified
Sara Cropper ... Zone
Nicole Farrell ... Zone
Jon Schlitt ... Zone
Shannon Curran ... Zone
Matt Lopez ... Zone
Brian Allers ... PR/Intern manager
Advertising managers
Broaden your mind: Today's quote
“I've taken my fun where I've found it.” — Rudyard Kipling
Letterws: 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 Staufer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Ann Premer (premer@kansan.com) or Tim Harrington (tharrington@kansan.com) at 864-4810. If you have general questions or comments, email the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4810.
Perspective
Former editor remembers times, people of Kansan
I remember walking into the Kansan newsroom for the first time when I was a freshman, so excited to start writing for the but scared of the staff. At the time, every-
Lindsey
Henry
oinpion@kansasan.com
paper, but scared of the sta one seemed so old, so mature, so talented.
Three and a half years and several staff jobs later, I've lost the notion that we're old, but I'm still in awe of the talent that swarms the newsroom. As for maturity, who knows. We all have the real world beckoning, so what's a few years of precociousness in college? There is nothing wrong with playing hockey with cookies late at night in the halls of the J-school.
On paper, my tenure at the
Beyond the anxieties and nights I thought would never end, the friendships and memories of past and present Kansan staffers remain. As I gather my things in preparation for my move to Washington, D.C. next month, I find myself mentally packing away little pieces of everyone into my heart.
Sure there has been seemingly endless stress and tension, especially when it seems no news is to be found anywhere on the campus, but nights spent playing midnight kickball on the lawn of Fraser Hall more than make up for it.
Kansan easily can be segmented into different positions: reporter, copy editor, campus editor, managing editor, editor, features editor. But what a resume will never show is what Ive learned from every person I met in 111 Stauffer-Flint.
Saying thank you to the people who have impacted my life hardly does justice for the past few years, but it's the best I can do.
**Bryan Volk:** Your goggles and headgear used to frighten me. Maybe they still do. Bygones. Anyway, your spasms and humor have kept the newsroom, and me, in constant good spirits at times when breaking down might have been easier than laughing. The Observer should be glad to have you.
Kristie Blasi: From you I learned friendship can spring up where you least expect it. You've been the calming force my life has needed. Thanks to you, I've found the joys of SportsCenter and 10-cents a minute calling plans. Spring 1998 never would have gone so well without you.
Ann Premer: I am so proud of you. You are what the *Kansan* needs next semester, and I can never thank you enough for stepping in at the last minute last semester. Talk about a *Kansan* watercarrier. I can't wait to see the legacy you leave as editor.
- Tim Harrington: Thanks for always being up for an excursion to the back dock. I'll miss our smoking conversations. Good for you.
Amanda Traughber: Thank you for leading by example and showing what a true editor is supposed to be.
Tom Eblen: Thank you for your constant guidance. I'll miss our daily chats, but I guess that's why we have e-mail. I promise to stay out of the headlines while I'm in D.C.
LaTina Sullivan: From you I learned the merit of sarcasm. Though you have moved on, I think about you all the time — every time I'm alone on the dock I remember our fresh air breaks and our plans for more time together. Maybe we can't have that time now, but I know we will someday. I miss you.
Angie Kuhn: Your good spirit makes the newsroom a better place, not to mention your designs that make the Kansan shine.
**Spencer Duncan:** So much has happened since you and I have been on the paper together. I admire your strength and dedication to the *Kansan*. no matter what.
■ Mike Perryman: I know you weren't enamored with the 'Kansan,' but I'm glad you put in a year. The paper was better for it. You have given me the courage to know that its OK to not know what tomorrow brings.
■ Readers: Finally, thank you for picking up the paper on your way to class. Without you, all of us Kansan kids would be out of a job.
Everything comes to an end, and I know it's time to leave Lawrence. But as I look back I can honestly say that I don't regret a minute I spent in the newsroom. And there were a lot of minutes.
To try to summarize my feelings about working for the Kansan, and the friendship that come with it, can never be fully done. So I guess I'll just say thanks to everyone in the newsroom for giving me the chance to have the best three and a half years of my life.
Henry is an Overland Park senior in journalism and will be a White House intern in the Spring.
Lowely editor points out KU rights and wrongs
Harrington opinion@kansan.com
Y you can't drop classes you need during your last semester. Did you know that? That's just wrong.
I took so many useless classes—in terms of not
counting toward my major—that I should be able to trade them for a requirements that I'm borderline passing now, in the final days of my last semester. For example, I'll trade Jimmy "the journalism dean" Gentry Spanish 388 and 486 for one measly History of Colonial Latin America class. Fine, I'll even throw in Spanish 324, but that's as far as I go. I got a D anyway. You'd have to be a fool to pass up a deal like that.
I'm older and wiser now. I know what I want to do and what classes I need to do it, but I have much less time on my hands. As a senior you have to deal with getting your resume together, signing up for interviews, getting a job, hanging out with friends, drinking a lot of beer and girls — there could be girls.
It's a win-win situation-
for me at least. When I was young and got decent grades, I didn't know what I wanted to do. I took classes I didn't need. Now, I'm taking classes to fill requirement. I need these classes, many of which are just as far removed from journalism as my philosophy of ethics class — which I'd also be willing to throw on the table for Colonial Latin American history.
Did I mention I have an abnormal psychology class that I don't particularly need? I got a B. Any offers?
Even if somebody was ready to make a deal, the University would stick its big nose in my business and make me pass my own classes. Stundd University
There are a few things wrong with this place. I've just pointed out one. But there are a lot of things right too. I will miss this place. However, I'm ready to move on. So let's chat about what's right and what's wrong with the University.
Wrong: My column's on bottom and Miss Henry's is on top. After all, I am the ASSociate opinion page editor. I don't care if she thanked me for being the lovable, humble nicotine-prod
Right: The cafeteria in the Kansas Union. I love you. I crave you. I want to baste and glaze you.
But I should be on ton.
uct-using guy that I am. Not in so many words of course, but you have to read between the lines. Thanks Lindsey. You really bake my beans.
But if you're going to eat beef, why not stroll a few paces to your right and have the good man slap half a dead cow — maybe still mooing, definitely still bloody — on your plate along with some mash potatoes (that's right, I said "mash") gravy, some green beans for color and a roll. It comes with the meal. Take two and eat one before you get to the checkout line. Weeee!
I don't know what that means, but it feels right, oh, so right. The Union cafeteria is my favorite restaurant in town — no joke. Find me another place where you can say: "Hmm. I feel like eating light today. I think I'll have a salad — no wait I feel like venturing south of the border this fine lunch break." Turn around and there's a Mexican Fiesta in your face. Now that you think about it, you've got a big date tonight — could happen — so why don't we get a burger and fries instead. Holy Moses! It's right there.
Right: The cop that didn't arrest me or even beat me with his night stick when he found me hiding among the rafters of the Field House before a basketball game. You should have seen the look on your face. You let me go, and I thank you. I bribed my way back in line with two glazed doughnuts, a chicken salad sandwich and a half a pint of two-percent milk from Joe's. KU won. A good time was had by all.
Wrong: I'm running out of inches.
Wrong. Weso Terrace food. Very wrong. It's semi-edibles served with a smile. I'm pretty sure I was poisoned there once, and for the same amount of money ... at the Union ... I'm not even going to start.
Now that's good eats. Vegans need not apply.
Dunn Em hungry, Amysu
Right: I think I'm going to graduate!
Wrong: There are a whole lot of poeple I'm going to miss a whole bunch (sniffle).
Wrong:Drug tests and starting salaries.
Right: No more teachers. No more books. No...
Harrington is a Pittsburgh, Pa., senior in journalism and is seeking employment.
Feedback KU band should play old songs
When I think of KU basketball in Allen Field House, I think of excitement. As the band starts playing, the crowd becomes restless. The music gets more exciting, and before you know it, everyone is on their feet singing the alma mater and the rafter
rumbling Rock Chalk chant. By the time starting lineups are announced, the noise is deafening.
4
However, in Previous years, the band played the same arrangement of songs before each game. These songs showed KU tradition and got the crowed psyched. Now, the band plays new songs. "Jump, Jive, and Wail" and "Living in America"
just don't get me excited.
I had friends come for the Fort Hays State game. After the game, I asked them what they thought. The responses were the game was fun but they were expecting more. So to this, all I can say is please do us all a favor and go back to the good old KU tradition.
Ryan Werner Spearville sophomore