Opinion
Kansan
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
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 Knupp, Technology coordinator
Tuesday, September 1, 1998
Editorials
Bleachers should offer seats to all
Area businesses need to keep their doors open to everyone if they want to be successful. This principle was illustrated last week in an article that was published in the Kansan that mentioned a new policy for Bleachers, a local night club. The new policy stated that to enter the club, patrons had to have a KUID because the owner wanted "a club for the students."
This irritated several students who attend Haskell Indian Nations University as well as members of the KU chapter of the Native American Student Association (NASA). They felt discriminated against because they were not included in the new policy and were no longer allowed to go to the club without being chaperoned by a KU student.
This new policy also illuminated
Bleachers policy of only allowing students excludes other community members.
issues concerning "Greek Night," which is every Thursday night at Bleachers. Last semester, several African-American students were not allowed to enter the club because no traditionally black greek organizations were listed with the other Greek organizations.
Dannie Thompson, the owner of Bleachers night club and Tailgaters restaurant, was caught off guard by these accusations of discrimination.
"As an African-American myself, I would be the last person to have discriminatory policies," Thompson said.
Both policies were immediately amended as soon as these concerns were brought to his attention.
were biographies. Thompson should go one step further and change his policy to allow nonstudents into his establishment as well. Students are not the only citizens of this community, so they should not be the only beneficiaries of local businesses.
Thompson made the appropriate decision in a swift manner to allow Haskell students to attend the club and as a result has undoubtedly secured the continued business of many students from both Haskell and KU.
But the issue should still be taken one step more by admitting everyone from the Lawrence area, not just students.
Leonard West for the editorial board
Cooperative effort deserves praise
This week the editorial board is recognizing the cooperative effort between Haskell Indian Nations University and the University of Kansas with a Pat on the Back.
When Haskell was in a pinch because of overflowing residence halls, the administration sought help from the University of Kansas. KU answered by offering 24 Haskell students a places in McColum Hall.
Although it is unfortunate in some respects that the Haskell students were displaced because they miss out on the opportunity to live with the students with when they attend class with, this instance shows how important the relationship between the two universities is. For example, Haskell didn't have to look to KU for help. Instead, the institution could
E-mail opinion@kansan.com to nominate people or groups for Pat on the Back.
have placed students in apartments or other living arrangements. But it didn't. It came to KU.
The students placed at KU still will be able to experience residence-hall life. Had they not been put in that living arrangement they would have been cheated out of a valuable life experience.
This experience will give Haskell students an opportunity to get hands-on experience of both Haskell and KU. It also will give KU students living in McCullum an opportunity to meet and build a stronger relationship with Haskell students have the chance to benefit from the living arrangement, but the Haskell students who agreed to live in McCulium are doing so for free. Haskell is picking up the tab.
ship with Haskell students.
One of the possible problems with the arrangement is the commute between the Universities. So far, it has not yet posed a serious problem. Many of the Haskell students are car pooling if they don't have their own transportation. However, ideas already are circulating about making a bus route between the two institutions. This cooperation and the ideas of future cooperation are what strengthens KU and Haskell along with the Lawrence community.
Ann Premer for the editorial board
Kansan staff
Ann Premer ... Editorial
Tim Harrington ... Associate Editor
Marvin 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 Veazy ... news clerk
News editors
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
Brian Allers ... PR/Intern manager
Broaden your mind: Today's quote "Light is the task when many share the toil." — Homer
Advertising managers
Letterrs: 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 hometown 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.
How to submit letters and guest columns
All letters and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stuart-Flin Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Ann Prere (aprere@kansan.com) or Tim Harrington (tharrington@kansan.com) at 846-4810. If you have general questions or comments, email the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4810.
Make each day a 'choose your own adventure' day
Do you remember the Choose Your Own Adventure books? When I was growing up, they were my favorite. There were all kinds. You could choose your own deep-sea
Perspective
Ryan Devlin
opinion@kansan.com
your adventure, your own space adventure, your own bad-hair adventure (it was the '80s after all), your own illicit-drug adventure (quickly amended to choose your own "just-say-no" adventure, which was OK except it always ended with this horrible Nancy Reagan monster), and so forth ad nauseum.
Well, this is my own version of those paperback gems; I call it "Choose Your Own Campus Adventure." One of the selections in
each of the categories may or may not actually have happened to me. Ready to play along, kids? Here we go!
You awake rather abruptly to the sound of: a) an alarm clock b) A shrieking roommate. c) A wallaby giving birth or d) Captain Behefner—and his Magic Band—in a '60s psychedelic outfit, doing a rendition of their song Hobo Chang Ba.
You scream out loud: a) "I'm hung over, I never should have had that fifth double-vodka!" b) "I'm hung over and it's the first day of class!" c) "I'm hung over, and it's 3 p.m. on the first day of class!" or d) "A weasel!"
If you chose c, your adventure is over.
If you close c, your adventure ends.
Quickly you put on your a) neatly laid out school clothes b) cape or c) pants, and jump into your a) bus b) car c) super-modified top-siders or d) plane (only applicable if you are Chancellor Robert Hemenway), and make a line for a) campus or b) Las Vegas.
You are a) ripped off. If you chose Las Vegas, go directly to a trailer park in North Vegas, and await the next story, "Choose Your Own Restaurant Employee Adventure," coming soon to the University Daily Kansan. If you choose campus, wait four months for a lousy 10 percent of what you paid.
After an intermely long and arduous journey, you arrive at your destination. You realize it's imperative that you stop at a) the bookstore or b) "Stois-of-Fun."
you pat.
Despite the fact that your dignity has been sucked from your soul, you manage to escape with $2 in your wallet, just enough to buy an ice-cold a) Coca-Cola product. It's a good thing, too.
because you're parched. But wait, your watch can't be right! Only three minutes until class starts! Guess Coca-Cola will just have to wait to get your a) hard-earned money b) hard-earned loan money c) parent's hard-earned money or d) advertising space.
You light a cigarette and break into a run, all along screaming: a) "Out of my way! I'm training for the Olympics!" b) "Get your freshman @%#$ out of my way! Don't you know Roy Williams when you see him?! I just realized our basketball team is going to suck this year, and Fredrick's got JaRon Rush on the line, and says he will willing to sign if we plant palm trees around the Allen Field House!" or c) "Mother Mary, I forgot to put on pants!"
Detecting your inability to speak, he says, a) "No need to thank me, the Beatles told me to do this!" b) "I saved your sorry butt! Now take the newspaper, it's free with a subscription damit!" or c) "Ahm all tanked on shugger-water and jest crashed mah plane into the Field House!"
Suddenly, you realize that your feet are parallel to your line of vision and you've stepped on a) a Kansan glossy insert or b) a Hare Krishna.
He insists on escorting you to class as a safety precaution, and you reluctantly accept. Somehow, you manage to make it to a) Wescoe b) Summerfield or c) Potter Lake on time for class. Your classmates immediately greet you with a) applause b) laughter or c) evil, self-conscious glares.
The ground is populated with them! Just before your skull is cracked on the curb, an arm swoops down and lifts you back to your feet with ease. You gaze upward with utmost gratitude at your benefactor, only to discover that it is a) another Hare Krishna b) a guy trying to give a free newspaper or c) the chancellor
Congratulations, adventurer! You've made it through another challenging quest! Hope it was as fun for you as it was for me. Remember, tomorrow is another adventure. Happy traveling.
(Note: The author would like to apologize to his fellow classmates for showing up minus his khakis on the first day of class, and wishes to let the chancellor know that it is OK, the Beatles told Charles Manson to do lots of things.)
You find a seat in the back and immediately a) open your notebook, thankful for the opportunity to take vigorous notes for an hour b) fall asleep or c) die.
Devlin is a Topeka senior majoring in English.
You should. This is the feeling half of the Greek community experienced after reading Carrie Johnson's greek-bashing article.
Johnson begins with her admission that she has no knowledge of the sorority system, and she tells us that she will share some of her observations. By modifying observations into criticisms, we can begin to deconstruct her arguments. The majority of the article can be dismissed as ad hominem attacks. Examples of this are seen by mention of $150, size-six dresses and rushing to throw away their individual and independence.
Feedback
Column employs unfair stereotypes
All schol-hallers are study freaks and computer nerds. All dorm dwellers are freshmen and exchange students. Feel alienated and stereotyped yet?
Individuality and independence bring up another point. The Greek community is not homogeneous. Not only do all houses have their own identities rooted in philanthropic activities, emphasis on grades, and involvement with other houses, but every girl is different. Saying that they have thrown away their individuality and independence is equivalent to saying all living groups are the same.
groups are the same. Johnson continues by implying sororites have no faith in freshmen. The opposite is true. Choosing a sorority is an intensely personal and sometimes stressful event. To have those choices influenced by anyone, is unfair and creates an atmosphere of peer pressure during a time when all choices should be open. Everyone is subject to peer pressure: freshmen, seniors, faculty, adults — everyone. Johnson then insults the freshmen herself by calling them vulnerable, lonely, confused, etc.
When I pointed out the unfair stereotypes and myths to a friend of mine, his reaction seemed to be "So, everyone else does it." I refer to the
Tara Kelly
Erik Goodman Dayton, Ohio, junior
Scandal coverage lacks substance
Tara Kelly Overland Park sophomore
Columnist provides valuable insights
Fragments.
I would like to say that being able to read Donato Fhunsu's articles in The University Daily Kansan last year and again this year have been a privilege. Considering the scandal and partisanship that disrupt U.S. politics — from the national level to our university — it is fair and open-minded individuals like Fhunsu from whom we should be looking for leadership.
Fragments I keep thinking of this word as the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal continues to unfold. Commentators and self-styled experts weigh in with daily analyses of the latest fragments to come off the Beltway. It is as if the scandal has taken a life of its own — like the mythological nine-headed hydra, each time a head is cut off, two more emerge to take its place.
old adage, "If everyone jumped off a cliff, would you jump off too?" The questions I ask are: How have you formed your opinion of the greek community? Are or were you a firsthand participant? Was your parent or sibling involved in the greek system? Have you formed your opinion by listening to others and judging the superficial aspects of a fellow student? If the latter is the situation, I recommend you go find your individuality and independence rather than making others opinions your own.
in listening to the defensive posturing on one side and howling for impeachment on the other, I keep wishing for context to the fragments bandied out. Part of this wish comes from having read John
My call is not for President Clinton to be excused for his misdeeds because we do not understand his context fully. Rather, I would welcome the fuller story to be told such as an exploration of what goes into the making of other leaders who have popular support even as evidence of lies surfaces. How about a fuller story about the apparent chasm between what the media inside the Beltway says and people outside Washington are saying?
rnese suggestions and other ideas don't have to be the stuff of 700-page novels. But the commentary could be more substantive than the various fragments that have been our diet for the last several months.
Steinbeck's "East of Eden" this summer. A 700-page novel spanning three generations and a whole country, I felt like I got to know the characters intimately. Their acts ranged from virtuous to evil. However, I always felt like I could understand the bigger picture as to why the characters did what they did.
I wish I could say the same thing about how the scandal has been handled by media and commentators. As attention shifts from one salacious detail to the next, the titillation factor gobbles up perspective and context. It is as if the media got mired in the introduction of the book rather than launching into a fuller story that gives a sense of the characters and each of their strengths and fallings.
The novel does not duck the unsavory, either. One of the characters owns a brothel and part of the novel is set there. Yet Steinbeck refuses to wade into the voyeuristic as he gives the reader a morality tale steeped in tradition and backdrop.
T. S. Eliot has written in the poem The Waste Land that "these fragments I have shored against my ruins." My wish is that the shored fragments of this latest scandal could be recreated into a builder of context and perspective.
Duane Wagler Partridge graduate student