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 adviser Justin Knapp, Technology coordinator
Monday, October 26, 1998
Editorials
Phelps goes too far with picketing
Fred Phelps Sr.'s picketing of Matthew Shepard's funeral sent a new and dangerous message that cannot be ignored.
The Rev. Phelps has become a Kansas fixture, picketing churches, events and funerals for years. People certainly have not accepted Phelps, but many Kansans have decided to ignore him.
But it is impossible to ignore the message Phelps sent when he traveled to Wyoming to picket Shepard's funeral. Shepard, who was homosexual, died after being brutally beaten and robbed. The demonstration was not a new move for Phelps, who has picketed the funerals of many homosexuals.
Different this time, however, was how Phelps' target, Shepard, died. Most of Phelps' funeral picketing has been reserved to homosexuals who died of natural causes, sickness or old age. He has picketed the funeral of many people who have died because of
This was the first time that he demonstrated at a funeral of a murder victim.
complications of AIDS
But Shepard's death was not accidental or the result of a disease. He was beaten and murdered. By picketing Shepard's funeral, Phelps and his supporters sent the message that they somehow condone the murder and, in essence, the attack. This is a departure from Phelps' old message of simply preaching hate and isolation toward homosexuals.
It is a dangerous message, and it cannot be ignored. Many people have said that ignoring Phelps is the best method to combat him. Ignoring him, not talking about him and refusing to give him access to the media eventually will lead
to his demise and the weakening of his message, the argument goes.
But that policy has not worked. Phelps has gone from a Topeka anti-homosexual preacher to a national anti-homosexual crusader who was on every TV network newscast and cable news channel two weeks ago. The message has not weakened, and when Phelps picked Shepard's funeral, he showed that his message only has strengthened.
Phelps has said he does not condone murder but that homosexuals often get what they deserve — that it is God's plan, and Phelps will not stand in the way. But when those convictions preach that it is OK for a man to be brutally beaten, something is wrong.
People need to realize that Phelps is not a harmless preacher, but a man whose voice continues to rise above others because everyone else continues to speak softer. This time, Phelps message was the worst yet.
Spencer Duncan for the editorial board
Hazing policies, attitudes must change
The numbers speak for themselves. Hazing still is a problem at the University of Kansas.
The problem that the University, the Greek community and individual students must work to solve is the attitudes surrounding the tradition of hazing.
Phi Kappa Theta has been accused of hazing one of its members, but that is not the most important issue that arose when the chapter was put on interim suspension last week.
The University seems to have been doing its part, making it clear that hazing and allegations of hazing will not be tolerated. Phi Kappa Theta, along with the seven other fraternities that have been accused of hazing in the last three years,
In the past three years, seven KU fraternities have been accused of hazing.
was put on interim suspension before the investigation started. This "guilty until proven innocent" mentality is not above questioning, but it should serve as an extra incentive for chapters to end their hazing traditions.
Students also seem to be taking a stand against hazing, evidenced by the fact that the number of reports has increased during the last three years.
ties should be the primary targets of investigations when an allegation of hazing is made. The University, particularly the administrators who regulate the Greek community, also must check themselves to see where their control of greek activities could be improved. Members of greek organizations and the student body in general must ask themselves whether they are allowing hazing to go on unreported.
However, the blame still must be shouldered by all sides. Fratern-1.
Hazing is an immature and outdated activity that should be eliminated from life at the University. What can each student, each chapter and each administrator do to aid in its removal? This is a question that must be focused on as the latest hazing investigation continues.
Kansan staff
Ronnie Wachter for the editorial board
Ann Premer . . . Editorial
Tim Harrington . . . Associate Editorial
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Broaden your mind: Today's quote
"We seek the truth and will endure the consequences." — Charles Seymour
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 Stuuffer-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
Women take back the night and open eyes to support
initially, I attended the 1998 Womyn Take Back The Night as an observer. Throughout my career at the University of Kansas, I had away in the event, but never felt as though I had a real reason to go.
Tamara Miller
Guest Columnist
Throughout my career at the University of Kansas, I had always been interested
This year, however, my roommate was one of the event's organizers, and that was all the connection I needed. I had no real reason not to go.
The night is a protest against violence directed at women and children. Survivors of rape and abuse speak about their
If we could document how many people have experienced psychological abuse in their relationships, or how many women have felt objectified, the statistics would be mind-blowing.
Speaking about violence also validates the experience of others who cannot or will not speak about their own abuse. Too often we feel alone in our pain and even start to think abuse is normal. Some women spoke about how they began to believe that the psychological abuse and sexual abuse in their relationships was normal.
experiences and afterward the group marches down Massachusetts Street, protesting violence and demanding safety and security. Clearly the night is an empowering event for the survivors.
As I listened to these women speak, I started to examine my own relationships. I made a personal connection several times. This not only validates other's experiences, but it takes away the shame that so many people feel when they have experienced rape or abuse.
But it's more than that.
Last Thursday blew away this idea and the results were tremendous. Although nothing can take away the memory of a rape or abuse, by speaking about their experiences, their pain becomes valid.
I left Womyn Take Back the Night as a full participant. The connection and empowerment I felt with the other women was inspiring and uplifting. I hope that each year, more and more people come. I hope that our society develops more events like these to offer that support system that human beings need.
At the rally, organizers reported that one third of American woman will be raped, and half of all women have experienced abuse during their relationships. This is a startling statistic. But too often this fact is treated as just a number.
These women have names and faces, individual experiences and individual triumphs. As I sat in the women's circle at the park, I was moved by the stories and joyous for the triumphs. I admired their strength, and their pain brought tears to my eyes.
Our society does not have a support system for the survivors of these highly traumatic experiences. We are pressured to keep quiet, to deal with our problems on our own and to not let the experience affect our lives.
Even through I am not a victim of rape or abuse, I, and everyone else who just came to the park to listen, was an important part of the event. A speaker that night emphasized the strength in numbers.
Womyn Take Back The Night offers a support system for survivors, and I became a
Miller is a Hutchinson senior in journalism.
part of that support system.
Feedback
Guest columnist works for Sawyer
After reading a column in the Oct. 14 edition of the Kansan, I felt compelled to respond.
Guest columnist Jack Martin is hardly an unbiased observer as he works for Rep. Tom Sawyer's campaign.
I will not make the same mistake. I'll tell you up front that I'm on the campaign payroll of the Kansans for Bill Graves. A summer internship with the campaign led to my being offered a part-time job this semester. If someone is trying to influence your opinion in a column or a letter to the editor, you deserve to know their agenda.
As far as Sawyer's idea for a free ride for scholastically achieving students, two things should be noted. First, to pay for it, he'll completely pull the plug on the state's economic development efforts, leaving Kansas as the only state in the nation without a business recruitment capability. So Sawyer wants more college graduates, but fewer jobs?
Second, Gov. Bill Graves believes the state has a role to play in helping Kansas students get post-secondary schooling. This year alone, the Governor recommended and the state Legislature approved $14 million in state grants, scholarships and fellowships.
Finally, what's wrong with the notion of the college students helping to pay their own way? I know I speak for many on this campus when I say the knowledge and experience I am receiving in my part-time job will be just as valuable to me, if not more so. upon graduation.
Rather than pander to a select group of voters, Gov. Bill Graves is taking his campaign to every segment of Kansas society. His message is clear — ALL of the people of Kansas deserve to reap the benefits of our strong economy. When Bill Graves wins, all of the people of Kansas win.
Leslie Pritkin Chicago senior
Kansan covered Shepard well
Thank you very much for all of the coverage you have provided to the KU community about the death of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming two weeks ago and how it affected members of our campus in Lawrence.
The week was a very difficult time for many of us on campus. Even so, many wonderful people united together to support each other in the wake of this news, and your role in that process was significant. I really appreciate all the work you've done to inform and enlighten the campus community about the speak out organized by Queers and Allies, and the commemoration organized by the Student Development Center, which provided opportunities for members of our campus to grieve, become more informed and support one another.
Thanks also to Mike Miller, a guest columnist, who spoke from his heart in a column last week about how Matthew Shepard's death affected him and his awareness of crimes such as these. Mike's words touched me very much and helped to lift my heavy heart.
Christine Robinson Lawrence graduate student
Students deserve praise for work
On Oct. 9 and 10, KU's National Pan-Hellenic Council sponsored the Black Greek Leadership Conference. Although many conferences, seminars and retreats take place at KU each year, this conference was a little different from the rest. This conference brought students from many different schools throughout the Midwest, including Kansas State and the University of Missouri, together to address a number of issues collectively and yet at no time did campus rivalry become an issue. All participants share the common goal of making a difference with themselves and on their respective campuses. The credit for the success of the conference
goes to the students who worked diligently to assure that each participant would have an engaging experience.
Robert N. Page Assistant director of admissions
Valid point against women's circle
Although the University of Kansas does an excellent job of rewarding and recognizing its faculty and staff, it is equally important to recognize our student leaders as well. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the following students for their efforts in coordinating a wonderful conference: Tiffani Cunningham, Adrian Franks, Greg Smith, Erica Hawthorne, Ericka Morris, Tisha McCoy, Malik Abdul-Aziz, Kelly McClelland, Mike Bell, Keena McClennon, Floyd Cline, and Eric Tullis. It has been my honor to work with these students and they are truly an asset to the University.
The University of Kansas has some of the best leaders in the country who are dedicated to a relentless effort of giving back to others. The students who planned this conference spent many days and nights working to make this conference as we shared our laughter, tears and hope that we can make a difference.
Kudos to Michael Bannon for a courageous column. I am very close to someone who, years ago, was outed as a rapist at one of the "Truth Circles." He was ostracized and vilified because of one woman's inability to take responsibility for her own actions.
Her personal shame at doing something she was not proud of became reason enough, in her opinion, for her to denounce him publicly as a rapist. This kind of reactionary, slanderous activity not only hurts the innocent accused, but also the women who actually speak the truth when they name their attackers. Thank you for voicing this perhaps politically incorrect, yet valid, point to the student body.
Stefanie Moore Lawrence graduate student