Opinion
Kansan
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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 Knupp, Technology coordinator
4A
Friday, September 25, 1998
Editorials
Release of Clinton tapes neccesary
This Monday, Americans were enthralled by the videotape of President Clinton's testimony to the grand jury investigating him; all major television news networks televised the four hours of testimony, and millions watched.
The House of Representatives Judiciary Committee was right to give Americans the chance to view this disturbing and somewhat saddening piece of history.
Such widespread distribution of a sitting president's testimony in any case is unprecedented. Not only has the committee released Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's report, they now have released hundreds of pages and pictures of supporting evidence to the public. No president has ever had to experience an inquiry of this depth
The American public has a right to information that could lead to impeachment.
concerning his sexual history.
The president's defenders have criticized committee members for releasing the tapes, accusing them of trying to embarrass the president. Unfortunately, Clinton already has embarrassed himself and weakened the power and stature of his office. All the evidence that the public has seen has not been overwhelmingly shocking. Rather, it confirmed most people's suspicions.
On the other hand, the modern presidency is as dependent upon public opin
ion as it is upon legal restrictions if not more so. When an executive can no longer bring any credibility to the office or has such a damaged reputation that he cannot effect any positive change, it is time for him to leave — either through resignation or impeachment.
Members of Congress admit that public reaction will weigh heavily on the committee's decision to draw articles of impeachment.
Thus, the committee was correct in releasing the tapes for public scrutiny. When these tapes, in addition to other evidence, have the potential to affect whether a momentous and solemn process such as impeachment occurs, the American people have the right to see why this process should or should not take place.
Chris Borniger for the editorial board
Basketball creates parking nightmare
The number of vehicles that fans bring with them to the games is a heavy stress to both the parking lots around the field house and the traffic flow through Lawrence.
For many students, basketball season approaches at a painfully slow pace, reminiscent of the traffic flow away from Allen Field House after every home game. Although the Athletic Department and Parking Department work hard to ease the burden of cramped parking lots and jammed streets, they should try working a bit harder.
To ease the traffic jam, the KU Public Safety Office and the Athletic Department have established traffic pattern to direct the flow along specified streets, said Sgt. Troy Mallen of the KU Public Safety Office.
However, for students who need to study on campus during basketball games, parking is still a problem. Parking lots around the field house are reserved several hours before each game for basketball season-ticket holders.
Students who need to be on campus during games can contact the parking department.
Season-ticket holders who donate $500 or more to the Williams Fund receive permits to park their cars close to the field house. After parking, Students must make a long trek from the other side of campus to reach academic buildings in the vicinity of the game.
The Williams Fund, which provides about 30 percent of the funding for the Athletics Department through donations, bought 2,280 parking spaces around the field house for all 15 home games this season at $6 a space a game.
said Donna Hultine, assistant director of the Parking Department.
Despite the significant amount of money that students contribute to KU each year through tuition alone, only 30 parking permits were given last year to law students who needed to get to Green Hall during games. Not even faculty who have offices in Learned Hall were offered permits to park in the small lot next to the building.
Although 30 permits for three entire KU schools is paltry, the parking department does try to work with requests from students who cannot plan their academic schedules around basketball games. Hultine said.
Students who need to access the campus during home basketball games should contact the Parking Department at 864-7275 to work out any schedule conflicts well before nights of home games.
Kansan staff
Kris Olsen 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 Shefordian ... Campus
Laura Roddy ... Campus
Lindsey Henry ... Features
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Roger Nomer ... Photo
Corie Waters ... Photo
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Sara Anderson ... Special sections
Laura Veazey ... news clerk
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Broaden your mind: Todav's quote
"Believe only half of what you see and nothing that you hear." —Dinah Mulock Craik
How to submit letters and quest 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 Stufaer-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 Warrening (tharrington@kansan.com) at 864-4810. If you have general questions or comments, email the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4810.
Foes should expect right to choose view on abortion
Often ask myself why it is that during this time in our nation when most of the country touts the importance of respecting diversity, we see glaring intolerance when it comes to certain issues?
Lisa Kreiner
Guest columnist
After this week's informational demonstrations regarding abortion and the anti-abortion cause, I began questioning what is being sought and whether it is consistent with the current zeitgeist in the United States regarding diversity. I would offer that it is not at all consistent, and that anyone who holds the belief that diversity should be preserved and respected should necessarily also respect the abortion-rights position.
Perspective
Many — if not all — of the individuals who favor the anti-abortion perspective also favor legislation that would prohibit women from having access to pregnancy-termination services under many conditions or altogether.
The protesters' large photographs attempt to draw parallels between the Holocaust and abortion, but the parallel actually lies between the rigid, one-sided and intolerant thinking patterns that can be observed both in those individuals who supported the Holocaust and the individuals who would support a legislative ban of access to abortion. The meta-message conveyed by each of these groups is: "I cannot tolerate ___ and I will attempt to see to its/their elimination." Only what fills in the blank differs; the overall pattern of thinking is the same.
date abortion of all pregnancies for the next several years. There are many supporters of this idea who are putting forth a great deal of effort to see that this suggestion is made into law.
For those of you who are anti-abortion and/or are in favor of banning abortion and cannot empathetic with individuals who are abortion-rights advocates, consider the following hypothetical example. Suppose that you have just gotten married and that you and your spouse are eager to start a family. However, there has been a population explosion in the United States, which has led to the proposition of legislation that would man-
How would you feel about this potential law that takes away your choice regarding giving birth to a child? Would you be outraged? Would you feel angry? Would any of you speak out against this legislation and say that no one should be able to take that choice away from you? Many of you would be very angry at the thought of this potential restriction and would want to preserve your right to choose whether to give birth. These feelings that you have just imagined are very similar to those felt by individuals who are strong abortion-rights advocates when faced with individuals who would attempt to restrict access to abortion. Moreover, if you felt that you would react to the example in the way that I have suggested, are you not also in favor of choice? In this case, the choice is your right to choose life, to choose to give birth to a child.
Please understand that I am not arguing that everyone should think that abortion is a good or moral practice. What I am contending is that everyone should respect each individual's right to have his or her own belief about this issue, even if it is different from his or her own belief. It is precisely for this reason that we should avoid legislation of moral issues. We should not expect everyone to evaluate moral issues in the same way. This expectation is at best unreasonable and at worst rigid, intolerant and potentially damaging.
The advantage of the current state of the abortion legislation is that regardless which position you support — abortion-rights or anti-abortion — you are free to act in a way that is consistent with your belief system.
We all should strive to respect and encourage diversity, even if this means seeing other people engage in behavior with which we fervently disagree. This is the price of freedom and preserving diversity. But this price is worth paying because when we preserve diversity we are preserving the complexity, excitement and richness of the world in which we live.
Kreiner is a Lawrence graduate student in psychology.
Lust for degrees and dollar signs can devour the soul
Something has gone wrong in America. Having too many things, men spend their hours and money on the couch searching for a soul." — John Steinbeck.
Half-awake on my sleep-inducing couch in my dark apartment, I saved up the energy to revolt against the Presidential Porno to detest an equally disgusting slice of modern life.
What if I told you that you could make millions of dollars selling products in tiny newspaper ads from your one-bedroom apartment in less than 10 minutes a day?
What if I told you that George Foreman's grill keeps the moistness in your meat and drains away the
John Wilson
opinion@kansan.com
fat? What if I told you that buying a Subaru Outback would make you as cool as Crocodile Dundee? What if I told you that a cool can of watered-down Coors Light should follow all the mountains you climb in life?
I am tired of people selling me things. I am tired of people trying to sell me happiness in material goods. I am tired of a brain-devoid culture in need of gadgets and conveniences. I am brain washed to be a recepticle for the great American culture that makes me consume, consume, consume. Just buy it, baby.
I tell myself I can get away from materialism at this "great liberal oasis," the University of Kansas. This myth is ingrained in my consciousness as much as the advertisements that pound me each day.
But that argument lost its truth long ago. Students attend college in 1998 to get a piece of paper and limp off into the world devoid of critical thinking abilities, but prepared to chase down the highest starting salary available. Yeah, higher education is doing its job.
The messages bombard us from all sides. From the cocaine of the masses (opium seems a bit outdated), television, to public places. Does any public debate occur on Wescoe Beach or just a capitalistic orgy of long-distance services pandering for a quick dollar or frat boys selling tickets to a money-making "music festival"? We are brainwashed to the point of forgetting the point of a liberal education.
The great American university did its job. Graduate from college, push papers for 40 years and retire. Then I can do something important with my life. I'll buy that.
This is not a country or a university set up to have a soul. This is a country and university set up to make money. I guess I will deal with it and get on with life. Enough idealism. Given the choice of love or a new car, I choose a Mercedes. Corporate job, here I come. I'll make that down payment on the 4-Runner and the Saab for the kids and buy the suburban mansion on the golf course. Move into the suburbs away from conflict. A liberal education prepared me for American life at the turn of the century.
"America is in danger of winning the whole world — economically, militarily, ideologically — and losing her soul. We must find a new soul."
— Frank Luntz.
Wilson is a Lenexa senior majoring in journalism.
Feedback
Healthy dialogue important above all
Maybe Chancellor Bob, no, make that CEO Bob, could shed some light on this issue when he's not jetting around the country begging for people to buy shares of Kansas University Incorporated. Maybe the future should involve corporate sponsors for the campus. The Coca-Cola Office of the Chancellor — excuse me, office of the CEO. The Commerce Bank Smart Card Strong Hall. The Sprint Communications Wesco Humanities Building. Trojan Condom Sexual Education with Dennis Dailey. The Hallmark School of Art. The Fox School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
At least the "anti-abortion advocates" that have been parading around campus have no hidden agenda. At least they aren't trying to lie to me and take my money. They sicken and disturb me and make me wonder how thinking people can be so insensitive, but at least they make the silent majority stand up and scream. At least they shake us out of our materialistic fog and make us think about important issues.
I was surprised to read about the reactions of the leaders of some of our campus organizations to the anti-abortion display. As an open-minded, multicultural woman, I too was disgusted by the pictures displayed by the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform. The beliefs and images portrayed were offensive, upsetting, and even preposterous.
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But the idea that this group should be so highly criticized for their display or demonstration tactics is even more preposterous. Who benefits from a campus or student body that only supports the opinions of those who demonstrate in an acceptable manner, especially when what is acceptable is so subjective?
moted a dynamic interchange of opinions and an intense amount of dialogue between many different people.
The anti-abortion display crated by the center did not jeopardize the safety of the members of our community. Rather, if anything, it pro-
I think that instead of shying way from these kinds of protests that make us feel uncomfortable, KU and its diverse leaders should embrace the opportunity to hear different perspectives that promote communication.
Lisa Edwards
Gainesville, Fla.. graduate student