Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY Kansan
Published daily since 1912
Jodie Chester, Editor
Gerry Doyle, Managing editor
Ryan Koerner, Managing editor
Tom Eblen, General manager, news advisor
4A
Marc Harrel, Business manager
Jamie Holman, Retail sales manager
Dan Simon, Sales and marketing adviser
Justin Knupp, Technology coordinator
Thursday, September 3, 1998
Editorials
Commerce trade center uproots popular Kansas Union features
Despite the frustrated opposition of many students, the semester was inaugurated by yet another example of the University's capitalistic pursuits through the displacement of the Kansas Union art gallery and television lounge in exchange for a full-fledged branch of Commerce Bank in the center of the Union's main floor.
the center of the university.
Student Union Activities was forced to accommodate the new bank, which will be accompanied by a KUID card center, in a move reflective of the trend toward increasing privatization and commercialization of University space, demonstrated last spring when the University entered into an exclusive deal with Coca-Cola. Also last spring, the University signed a five-year contract with Commerce Bank and Cybermark, a Florida-based technology company, in whats another step in the selling of the University.
Although bank construction will be completed by the end of this week, the temporary art gallery setup is behind schedule and might be ready for the first exhibition Sept. 14. The art gallery, replaced by the bank, will be moved to where the old television lounge was that has been shoved into a corner of the basement's Jaybowl.
Phase three of union renovations
A Commerce bank branch has replaced what used to be the art gallery.
rumored to include gallery reparations, won't be on the drawing board until the summer of 2000.
An administrative explanation of the art gallery displacement suggests there is substantial student demand for a full-service campus bank. But this doesn't seem to be true in the face of figures revealing that only 20 to 30 percent of the student population has signed up for Commerce Bank accounts. This is not surprising because only about 400 of 28,000 KU students were consulted in the surveys conducted.
competitive, business-oriented profit motives of the privately owned Union which will receive hefty rent payments from Commerce.
A sensible, no-strings-attached alternative to a full-fledged bank is a few Commerce Bank ATMs scattered around campus that would conveniently provide all banking services with the exception of loan approval. Students already can cash checks at the Union's banking window. The lack of a satisfying justification for not taking that course of action shows that the University's actual motives were to appease Commerce Bank and the
A board comprising students, faculty, alumni and staff governs the Union, but it appears as though the students on the board didn't have much influence in the decision. Although the union makes money, students who regularly dropped in to enjoy displayed art in the perfectly central gallery location and students who occupied the convenient, comfortable television lounge will suffer. The gallery, host to local, regional and even national artists, is being squeezed into an area that is 200 square feet smaller than the old gallery, decreasing visibility and limiting exhibition capacity. And the television lounge, which — seemingly no matter what time of day — was occupied by students, is now just a lone television without chairs three floors down.
Many students regard the Union as a place to hang out between classes, but it is unfortunately becoming more reminiscent of a commerce center aimed solely at the marketing of goods and services.
Nadia Mustafa for the editorial board
Feedback
Robinson should keep all racquetball courts
I am writing this letter because I am concerned about the racquetball courts being demolished to add another exercise room. Contrary to most people's beliefs, racquetball is still a popular sport.
There have been reports that the sport will really pick up in five to
ten years. Thus if they tear the courts up now they might regret it in the future.
The best way to compromise is just to tear out some courts, not all, and use the rest as an exercise room. Besides, Robinson already has multiple facilities as it is.
I believe that if this plan is carried out (to gut out all of these courts), that more people will be affected than is expected.
Russell Warren
Lecompton freshman
Editor's note: Five of the 15 racquetball courts in Robinson Center are being taken to make room for an energy balance lab. The 8,500 - square-foot lab will house a bio-chem lab, a kitchen, an exercise room and exam rooms, among other things.
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 Shefordgen ... 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
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 Schlitt ... Zone
Shannon Curran ... Zone
Matt Lopez ... Zone
Broaden your mind: Today's quote
How to submit letters and guest columns
"No man's credit is as good as his money." — E.W. Howe
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.
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Perspective
Do students need ATM access all over campus?
R remember the first day of class last year? Whew, boy it was tough — not the classes, of course — but going around Mount Oread knowing my deepest
Jonathan
Huskey
opinion@kansan.com
rear was a reality: That I could possibly be more than 100 feet away from the nearest cash machine. I got the shakes and nearly threw, up every time I stepped onto campus.
Now, through a compassionate decision by University administrators, a KU student can get his or her cash fix outside of Wescoe instead of being relegated to those redlight districts at either
end of Jayhawk Boulevard. Yep, the suits do actually have hearts, and allowed through the smartcard contract guys at Commerce Bank to deal us addicts an injection of green right in the pulmonary vein of campus.
Gone are the days of being treated as outcasts, made to walk to private property to complete a private financial transaction. I was being oppressed. I tell you. The former policy was a slap in the face to every student consumer here.
student consider it. My need and love of bright, shiny ATMs is my business. Who was the administration to say I should wait to express it until I am off their highfalutin grounds? Sure, I could plan ahead and stop at an ATM before class, but I'm in college and can't be bothered with such responsibility. And why should anyone be troubled when there are so many barren spots on campus that are just perfect for a big, beautiful Bankmate machine.
Of course, it's not just about my needs; there are some deep issues at stake. I should be able to get and spend my parents hard-earned money in as little time as possible, and don't give me that whiny rhetoric about a non-commercial University environment. Hey, the University decided it was a good idea to have a business school and marketing program. I consider my campus spending just part of that curriculum.
We can rejoice, but let us not forget those who have gone before us. They never had the right to check their ever-shrinking balance or pay an exorbitant transaction charge to a campus machine. I pray they now have a mobile ATM to make up for the time stolen from them when they went out of their way for that sweet, tempting dough. Surely some sort of separation is due them.
We have been vindicated, and indeed have overcome injustice. We can express our capitalistic tendencies without being treated as second-class citizens. With pride and receipt in hand, I can walk away from this glorious machine knowing my addiction to consumerism has been legitimized by the University. No longer will I feel dirty and forlorn because Strong Hall has not only absolved me, but encouraged my habit.
The University should be thanking me! I mean, if I don't buy the food in Wesco Terrace because I don't have the money right then, they might not have to put out so much food, and that's got to be bad for
Who says the University isn't progressive?
someone's job... Yes folks, our habit is all about healthy monetary circulation.
In closing, it is safe to say that this has already been a happy year for the University's materialism. However, we must be vigilant. In order to keep our beloved ATM, we must show that no one can infringe upon our banking rights.
upon our banking rights.
I propose every month a cash-out on Wescos Beach. It kind of would be like the sit-ins your parents may have done, except this time for all the right reasons. With thousands of consumers lined up to withdraw from that machine, we will send a message that gone are the days when our cash flow was restricted by oppressive factors of proximity.
We can call it the Million-Dollar March and Donald Trump can be our organization's spiritual leader. Maybe our movement can go beyond cash machines into a whole new realm of money squandering. Perhaps we could persuade the University to get rid of that annoyingly simple ID card system for a flashier corporate one. It would be another way to ... oh yeah, they've done that, too. Maybe the system does work. I hope that you are as proud as I am.
Huskey is a Salina senior majoring in political science.
Saferide caters to drunks; fosters irresponsibility
$ \mathbf{T} $ there are few things in life more bothersome than people who refuse to take responsibility for their own actions. Perhence the only thing more irksome than such a
haps the only thing more in person is when I'm forced to support such irresponsibility. For years, Student Senate has been providing an opportunity to support irresponsibility through the Saferide program.
The goal of Saferide is to provide safe transportation to all KU students. The reality is quite different. Saferide hours and operating procedures clearly show that Saferide is nothing more than a "tipsy taxi" financed at the students' expense.
Rodger Woods opinion @ kansan.com
For instance, imagine that you are studying at a friend's house on a Friday night. Options to get home? Not many. First, in about a month it will start to get dark around 6 p.m., and you might not want to walk home. Second, the bus may not run by your friend's house. Third, Saferide doesn't start until 11 p.m., and then you have to compete with all the bar patrons and partygoers to get a ride.
Let's try a second example. Say that you have decided to spend the evening at Watson Library. It's p.m. and your roommate, who earlier promised to pick you up, is not at home. Call Saferide? Saferide doesn't start operations until 11 p.m., and you never know how long it will take. If the car arrives after midnight, you will have to stand outside because the library will be closed. You probably ought to take the bus. It runs (both on- and off-campus loops) until 12:10 a.m.
pus loops) until 12:18 a.m.
Final hypothesis: Suppose that you are at the library on a Saturday night or at your friend's house studying. One might believe that the two extra vehicles operating on weekends would make it easier to get a ride home. Hold on a second. The libraries close at 6 p.m. on Sundays, and the number of KU students studying on Saturday nights may well fit into the two added cars.
Could it be that the extra cars are added primarily to serve bar patrons and party goers? Quiz Time:
1. Quiz time.
2. Who makes money every time someone says "You guys go ahead. I'll stay here and call Saferide after last call."
2. What group of students are the primary users of Saferide?
Users of Saferide
Who pays for Saferide?
3. Who pays for salt me?
Points awarded for the following answers:
oar owners; the inebriated or those surprised to find that it gets dark at night; every student regardless of behavior.
regardless.
Although the current Saferide program generally ignores the needs of students that may need transportation before 11 p.m. (i.e. people studying, going to labs, etc.), it fosters irresponsibility for those needing transportation after 11 p.m. By allowing students a ride paid by others, Saferide eliminates the need to plan. There is no need to select a designated driver, to stay with a group that will walk home together or plan for the eventuality that it just might get dark at night.
First. If Saferide wants to regain legitimacy as a real transportation alternative for students, the hours must change. A major selling point for Saferide has been that students can get a safe ride home after dark. Anyone can see that it gets dark before 11 p.m. Perhaps the money used to support the two extra cars on weekends could be used to support earlier hours during the week. Priority should go to students wishing to travel home from the library or other on-campus locations instead of someone leaving a bar.
someone exerting pressure.
Second option: Just admit it. The primary purpose of Saferide is to haul around drunk students so that they don't hurt themselves or others. There is no shame in trying to keep drunks off the road. However, there is no reason to make all students pay for the shortsightedness of a few students. There are other options.
light get over it.
I see two possibilities for the Saferide program to be a fair, rational program and a credit to this University.
Local bars and liquor stores derive profit by selling alcoholic beverages to students. Perhaps they could be persuaded to subsidize Saferide. Rather than passing out "Know when to say when" coasters, maybe local wholesale distributors would like to put their name on the cars. In fact, the Saferide cars should have so many advertisements and stickers that they look like something from the NASCAR racing circuit.
current.
Any shortfalls in Saferide finances could be made up on a pay-as-you-go system. Of course, many students might have spent their last dollar on beer. However, since a KUID is required to ride, it should be very little trouble to use the KUID number for later billing.
We need a system that promotes responsibility, not a "tipsy taxi" that forces everyone to pay for those unwilling to care for themselves. With a little effort Saferide, could become that system.
Woods is a Hutchinson second-year law student.