Opinion
Kansan
Published daily since 1912
Jodie Chester, Editor Marc Harrell,Business manager Gerry Doyle, Managing editor Jamie Holman, Retail sales manager Ryan Koerner, Managing editor Dan Simon, Sales and marketing adviser Tom Eblen, General manager, news advisor Justin Knupp, Technology coordinator
Friday, November 6,1998
Editorials
Issues raised about Senate leader should be taken seriously, fairly
On Oct. 28, a letter was delivered anonymously to Scott Kaiser which charged that he has been, among other things, biased and unprofessional in his position as student body vice president. It was signed by six members of the Student Executive Committee.
Although the letter's delivery to Kaiser seemed questionable, there is one fact in this affair that is not questionable.
There is a perception problem among student senators. Many of the allegations in the letter are somewhat vague and seem based on perceptions and interpretations of actions that may or may not be correct.
Kaiser addressed the grievances in
Kaiser addressed the issues at the Wednesday StudEx meeting.
this letter one at a time at this week's StudEx meeting. This a good thing. When misunderstandings like these are permitted to grow and fester, government of any sort grinds to a halt.
However, Wednesday's StudEx meeting should not be construed as an end to the matter. All parties involved should remember to keep lines of communication open at all times.
Kaiser also should have addressed the perception of some Senators that
ne uenn't care about what these senators had to say. In the Oct. 29 Kansan, he was quoted as saying that he wasn't really worried about it. This comment, although made less than 30 minutes after he received the letter, was not appropriate. Those in positions of power always should think before they speak. He gave the entire University community the impression that he was not concerned about a letter which was signed by a majority of the voting members of StudEx.
Senate should make every effort to place itself above petty bickering and infighting. Concerns of any sort should be voiced quickly and objectively, and those concerns must not be met with arrogance or apathy.
Jennifer Roush for the editorial board
Pay off in Jones' case cheats justice
rauma Jones' recent acceptance of $1 million proposal from a New York tycoon, supposedly to encourage a compromise in her sexual harassment lawsuit against President Clinton, not only reflects poorly upon Jones' character but also sets a dangerous precedent for how justice should be determined in the United States.
Last week, Jones publicly accepted a check from New York parking-lot entrepreneur Abe Hirschfeld. Hirschfeld has declared that the $1 million line of credit would be hers if she settled with Clinton.
This adds yet another twist to Jones' historical civil suit. While her original case, announced in 1994, was thrown out of court last year, an appeal could mean Clinton would be the first sitting president in history to
If Paula Jones settles her lawsuit she will get $1 million, but not from Clinton.
be sued. Now in stages of negotiation. Clinton is offering $700,000 to end the suit. Jones, however, has publicly stated she wants $1 million from the president before she withdraws the case.
Hirschfeld's money will pay for Jones' expanding legal bills from current and former lawyers and a conservative consulting group.
the president accountable to making as much money as possible off of this bloated circus show. If the president did indeed sexually harass Jones, he must definitely be punished. In Jones' situation, greed has superseded her desire for justice.
Even more disturbing is the example of how a completely unrelated, but highly wealthy party such as Hirschfeld can steer the arbitration of a case with such serious implications. It is unfortunate that someone with enough money can essentially buy justice.
This most recent turn of events undermines the entire concept of justice. In the four years since she announced the civil suit, Jones' goal appears to have shifted from making
As citizens, we must realize that the commercialization of justice is a dangerous trend. When we place our own greed above the need for the proper action of law, the spirit of the American judicial system is cheapened.
Chris Borniger for the editorial board
Kansan staff
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
Mellissa Ngo ... Wire
Sara Anderson ... Special sections
Laura Veazey ... news clerk
News editors
Advertising managers
Stacia Williams . Assistant retail
Brandi Byram . Campus
Micah Kafitz . 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 Schillt . Zone
Shannon Curran . Zone
Matt Lopez . Zone
Brian Allers . PR/Intern manager
Advertising managers
Broaden your mind: Today's quote
“With most people, doubt about one thing is simply blind belief in another.” — G.
C. Lichtenberg
How to submit letters and guest columns
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.
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
A fond farewell to the days of Brandon Walsh
I said goodbye to an old friend Wednesday night. This was someone who has been with me through the good times and bad, someone with whom I could always identify.
From my friend's apartment, I watched as Brandon left his familiar surroundings in Beverly Hills for a big newspaper job in Washington D.C.
Along with the cast of *Beaverly Hills* 90210, I said a final goodbye to Brandon Walsh.
Lindsey Henry
Guest Columnist
Sure Jason Priestley, the actor who plays Brandon, probably left the show for better roles, or what have you. But his character, in a twisted, non-culture way
Oh Brandon, you will be missed.
always has been there for me—a permanent fixture of my adolescence. Other teen shows have come and gone, but Brandon and his clique of silicon-enhanced, trendy friends remained on Wednesday nights.
Before you cast aside my ramblings as that of someone who has watched far too much TV in 'her 21 years, let me assure you Brandon's departure has deeper meaning for this couch potato.
I identified with the young Walsh when the show first aired in 1990. His Midwestern family was uprooted and thrown into the strange world of California. Watching Brandon react to all of the blond hair, the flagrant displays of wealth and glitziness of Beverly Hills reminded me of when my family picked up and moved to Los Angeles in the mid '80s. Stranger in a strange land indeed.
In the coming years, Brandon found himself working for his high school newspaper. Another similarity, I tell you.
in college, Brandon wrote for the campus paper, and covered the administration. When I
But he lost me when, later in college, he switched his emphasis to broadcast journalism. Brandon ran the 'California University' television station while I stayed on as editor of the Kansan. Always the progressive, Brandon jumped on the journalism school trend of media convergence, as I stayed behind dedicated to print.
I can take a little joy in my roommate's nickname for me during this time. Whenever someone from Strong Hall called me back, Katie would leave a message that read: Brandon, the chancellor called you back.
But my faith was renewed in Brandon in the most recent seasons. Jobless after college graduation (big shock for journalism majors), he decided to start up a renegade weekly publication called the Beverly Beat. Often, when coniserating with fellow Kansan staffers about the real world, we resolve that if no one finds work, we will band together and start a paper made up of Kansan has-beens. Brandon and his trusty pal Steve lived out our fantasies.
tell you I did the same, don't think I decided to model my life after Brandon. That would be sick and wrong — these are mere coincidences. I swear.
The final bond that forever will tie me to Brandon came at the end of last season. He and Kelly, the college girlfriend, just couldn't seem to make it down the aisle. Try as he might, commitment just wasn't for him. Oh honey, I feel your pain.
So as Brandon Walsh drove off into the California night, heading for the big stories in Washington D.C., I wiped a tear from my eye and said goodbye to my adolescence (which I probably should have done a long time ago) and said goodbye to my constant television companion.
Fare thee well.
Henry is an Overland Park senior in journalism.
The art of acquaintances takes practice and skill
As the years pass by, we inevitably lose track of names and faces that were once part of our daily high-school agendas. Of course, this being the small world that it is.
25,000 students aren't nearly enough to keep me from running into a few old acquaintances while roaming campus.
Usually, this requires not only acknowledging that such people are recognized, but also stopping to have a conversation, which requires remembering something about them, oftentimes, their name.
Unfortunately, having my name and face posted in the paper once a week gives these blurred visions from the past
H.G.
Miller
opinion@kansan.com
an unfair advantage — they can easily identify me on the walkways of campus, while I must search hopelessly for some nugget of information about them in the trash receptacles of my brain.
Not to say that these people aren't important. I just never expected to see them again. Ever.
"oh, hi." I'll say with the jolliest smile I can muster.
Usually, the first thing to strike me about these long lost laps is the weight they've gained or the hair they've lost. However, my strong sense of tact forces me to avoid voicing these observations. Rather, I'll do my best to navigate the inevitable topics of conversations.
The interested party will always want to "catch up" on the many happenings in my life. Sadly, I've accomplished very little in the last four years, and personal records for alcohol consumption and abstinence aren't exactly things to brak about.
Never mind the fact that this person and I spoke maybe 10 words to each other throughout all of high school, our hometown connection now binds us like brothers amongst the sea of strangers milling about.
"Oh, you know, work and school," I'll respond with that knowing grin of mine.
As a veteran of these chance encounters, though, I've learned a few tactics. Soon, I spring
So, are your friends? "Oh, my God," she'll respond with some sort of hand gesture, dependent upon the magnitude of the break up. "Did you not hear what he did to me?"
into the pain.
"So are you still with that one guy?"
While I could care less about what he did, at least the focus has been shifted from my meager existence to some story that will require no thought on my part to process. From here, I only can hope the whistle will give me a reason to run off to class.
Of course, these encounters should be meaningless and easy to handle. My problem is my mentality. You see. I hate unanswered questions.
"What's up?" is a killer to me because I can't just do the nod. I've got to say something, which is usually "nothing," which is a lie, which my mother trained me not to do, and you can only imagine the emotional ramifications of breaking such a sacred trust.
My friends have asked me to seek help, but I just can't afford it right now.
"How are you?" also seems to be a popular question. Go ahead and try to answer to that one honestly.
"Oh, me? Well, I'm single, I hate my job and can barely afford to pay the rent. My only real aspiration in life is to find some meaningful means of existence because I'm sure not getting it from school. How are you?"
Now, I don't really say that. Instead, I usually answer "fine," and look for the nearest building to duck into, saying something like "Yeah, all the English courses are in Smith Hall."
Maybe I'd feel better if everyone wasn't so floppin' happy. It's a bit difficult when some girl who turned you down for a date in high school comes bounding up with an engagement ring shining brighter than the light beacon that is the Lied Center sign. Not that I'm still bitter about it or anything.
I suppose these chance encounters are all just a small part of what makes college such a wonderful experience. I don't know, though. Sometimes, I'd just rather not have to repeat the same empty lines every time some vaguely familiar face stops me on the sidewalk. Or, at least they could pretend to forget my name, so I don't have to feel like such a schmuck.
Miller is a Hutchinson senior in English.
Feedback
GTAC responsible for GTA health care
I was happy to read Andrew Gawron's Nov. 3 column, "GRA/GTA health plan excludes many students." Gawron is correct; the current health care option clearly fails to meet the needs of those eligible for the plan, let alone those who are not. However, I was disappointed to note that Gawron failed to identify the single reason graduate students have any health care
GTAC fought for years to secure the health options implemented this semester. Unfortunately, I think the official position of the administration has been either indifference or hostility toward graduate-student efforts to gain compensation. Is it any wonder, then, that the plan we now have is inadequate?
options: GTAC, the Graduate Teaching Assistants Coalition.
GTAC only was able to secure benefits for GTAS, but GTAC would love to see all graduate students receive the
health care options. Not only has GTAC secured health care for GTAs, but all GTAs now enjoy increased compensation, a grievance procedure and many other benefits thanks to their union.
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Graduate students who wish to secure fair compensation for their invaluable work should join GTAC, the only organization that has fought for and won benefits for GTAs.
Kevin C. Armitage
Crested Butte, Colo., graduate
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