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 Knupp, Technology coordinator
Thursday, August 20,1999
Editorials
Use your smarts with smartcards
The KU smartcard detractors have raised objections that the smartcard is too "smart" for its own good. Mary Ann Graham, KU Card Center manager, maintains that it's no less secure than the ATM card that most of us carry in our wallets now. So far, that seems to be true. However, an AltaVista search on the World Wide Web yielded some interesting information from a homepage belonging to Gemplus, the company that manufactures the microchips embedded in KU Cards. From this site, one can download software which conceivably could be used to reprogram the chips.
The University needs to address this issue and make certain that hackers won't be able to lock students and faculty out of their own IDs. Beyond that, students and faculty need only take the same care with smartcards that they do with ATM and credit cards.
Students should treat new ID cards with the same responsibility as ATM and credit cards.
All the furor about the KU Card — it may not be safe, it didn't work with the bus system when it was supposed to, it wasn't completely ready for use in the summer — suggests a question: why a smartcard, and why so quickly? Other universities have made their student IDs smarter without microchips. Of course, those IDs don't work in vending machines or double as bank cards.
Our cards, which were adopted by the University last spring will eliminate many inconveniences of the old student ID cards, we are told. For instance, the KU smartcard will function as a bus pass, as well as a smart
key and meal ticket for residence hall students. It also will allow students and faculty to take advantage of facilities at Robinson Center without having to physically surrender their ID cards. In the future, the card will allow students to purchase photocopy and laser printing services on campus.
But one answer as to why the University jumped aboard the technology train so quickly can be found on Gemplus' Web site (www.gemplus.com). The card will pay for itself as it "generates revenue by encouraging on-campus expenditure."
Doubtless, the administration expects most of that expenditure to go into the more than 150 Coca-Cola machines that now blanket the KU campus. Once again, it seems that money talks, and the University of Kansas is all ears.
Jennifer Roush for the editorial board
Bike lanes progress is promising
The Lawrence City Commission deserves a big thanks from the community for taking action to resolve an issue important to both students and city residents — making space for bicycles on and along Lawrence streets.
This summer, the city built bike paths on the west side of Iowa Street from 19th to 23rd streets and also between 23rd and 27th along Naismith. Furthermore, the paths are made of concrete, a substance more stable than asphalt or dirt. Existing paths are being widened and covered in concrete.
The city's efforts to generate a public awareness program also deserve applause. Designed to influence cyclists and drivers to share the
New paths, awareness program and city transportation planning office lead the way.
road, tentative plans for the program include public education programs on radio and in newspapers, filers in utility bills, maps of new and existing paths and educational programs in elementary schools.
City Hall has even created a new office — City Transportation Planner. Aaron Bartlett is the first person to hold this position.
campus — an area with lots of traffic, both from bicycles and cars.
The city still is studying plans to re engineer streets in the heart of Lawrence, especially those east of
Lawrence still lacks bike lanes integrated into city streets. While reengineering streets is a costly and time-consuming process, it definitely can be done—and needs to be done to make sure cyclists can ride without fear of being struck and killed by an automobile.
Students and residents alike should not lower their voices just yet. Anyone who feels strongly about the issue should voice their opinions at a meeting of the city Bicycle Advisory Committee, which meets the third Tuesday of every month on the fourth floor of City Hall.
Nonetheless, the progress city officials have made is remarkable and worthy of our gratitude.
Chris Borniger 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 Sheforgen ... Campus
Laura Roddy ... Campus
Lindsey Henry ... Features
Bryan Volk ... Associate features
Roger Nomer ... Photo
Corie Waters ... Photo
Angle Kuhn ... Design, graphics
Melissa Ngo ... Wire
Sara Anderson ... Special sections
Kansan staff
News editors
Stacia Williams . Assistant retail
Brandi Bryam . Campus
Mieah Kaffiz . Regional
Ryan Farmer . National
Matt York . Marketing
Stephanie Krause . Production
Matt Thomas . Production
Tracie Meisenheimer . Creative
Tenley Lane . Classified
Sara Cropper . Zone
Nicole Farrell . Zone
Jon Schitt. . Zone
Shannon Curran . Zone
Matt Lopez . Matt
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Broaden your mind: Today's quote
"We give advice, but we do not inspire conduct."—LA Rochefoucauld
**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 Stuaffer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Ann Premier (premer@kansan.com) or Tim Harrington (harrington@kansan.com) at 864-4810. If you have general question or comments, e-mail the page staff [opinion@kansan.com] or call 864-4810.
Perspective
First day's homework: Read the paper, respond
Long lines for bus passes and books signal a return to Mount Oread. Sidewalks that just days ago were empty now are jammed with students. And today, the first day
Many such lectures focus on semester deadlines: test dates and paper due dates.
Jodie Chester
opinion@tansan.com
My job is deadlines, so these lectures are right up my alley. One in particular caught my attention. A professor, who calmly had been reviewing classroom etiquette, paused and then yelled: "And I don't want to see anyone reading Kansans during my class!"
reading this right now in a certain room in Blake Hall. I hope you don't get caught.
That lecture made for a great first day: It reassured me that students were interested in The University Daily Kansan, and I found out that I could drop the class.
The organization of the Kansan is similar to that of other campus groups. Every semester brings new faces and a shift of responsibilities. Some of us have spent more than our share of time in the newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. Others have just begun.
Within the newsroom, the Kansan has a news side and an advertising side.
The ad staff ensures much of our financial stability so that we can bring you the news. They also were the ones who came up with the home-delivery idea for the back-to-school issue, which was good for you, the dedicated reader, and not so good for the staff members who delivered the papers at 6 a.m. Monday. I hope you read that issue.
Reporters, designers, copy editors and photographers — along with their editors — can be found in the newsroom. Or, even better, outside the newsroom conducting interviews or figuring out what it is readers want to know.
About 4 p.m., the people who haunt this building until the early hours of the morning begin to arrive. The news editor, who is the last person here each night, leaves with the pages ready to be printed at 12:30 a.m.
The next morning, the papers sit in the distribution boxes awaiting you, the reader. After you have picked up a paper, we want you to find news, features and photos that interest you.
- you only have time to read one paper a day — an argument that too many students try to make — I want it to be the Kansan, and I want
If we have missed something of importance to you, it probably is important to others. Let us know. I say us, meaning anyone on staff. Tell a reporter. Tell an editor. Tell me. We can't fix the problem if we don't know what it is.
the Kansan to provide the range of coverage that makes it a complete newspaper for you.
As for fixing problems, copy editing is my career of choice. After working here for eight semesters, I have little time left to change my career path. It has been awhile since the Kansan has had someone with a copy-editing background rather than reporting background as editor. For me, the new job is a change from the night side to the day side. One of my goals is to early in the day find the problems that too often must be resolved at night. Then everyone can wake up to accurate and fair coverage, and no one on staff must to face the ire that occurs when deadline is missed.
In addition, the content of the Kansan will change in several ways, many of these in response to reader feedback. (It works to tell us what you think.)
Back by popular demand will be a daily On Campus. This listing should alert readers to the multitude of campus activities that occur each day. On Campus, which is a free service for readers, will run on a space-available basis. When space is limited, listings for later events may be held.
An added feature this semester will be the expanded coverage of national and international news. But we will localize the events to reflect the reactions of the University community.
The new Web site may be a shock to those who click to the Kansan regularly. Our Web staff has constructed a site that downloads more quickly. Other features include an index that allows for easier navigation and an archive, so you can find all of those articles you missed.
Look to the Web for a complete listing:
www.kansan.com.
I have attended many campus organizations' meetings during which the Kansan coverage of their groups are discussed at some point. What befuddles me is that, whether they are pleased or disgruntled, rarely do we here about it.
We have people in the newsroom from at least 9 a.m. until after midnight, Sunday through Thursday, and until late afternoon Friday. No long lines or deadlines exist for submitting feedback.
This is your paper — be an active reader. So write us a letter, submit a guest column or just give us a call.
Chestier is a Phillipsburg senior majoring in journalism and political science.
A complete ass(ociate) offers advice to freshmen
or the first time, I actually know an incoming freshman and have the opportunity to pass on what I hope is wisdom albeit from my own warped point
That's not an insult. That's tip No 1.
view about how to make the most of college life.
So welcome Andy, and all other naive freshman out there.
As a freshman, you should learn to take solace in the fact that you don't know jack about squat.
Don't believe me? Think you're pretty sharp? Think I'm a jerk!
Tim Harrington opinion.kansan.com
Think back to when you were a freshman in high school. Were you a monon?
Well, so was I, and so we all were. And now you're a moron once again — slightly more sophisticated and seasoned, a great deal taller — at least in your case Andy — but a moron none-the-less.
Enjoy it. You are a blank page, a dry sponge.
Soak up everything you lay your eyes on.
Relax, and learn from all the mistakes you'll make.
Look at it from a "glass is half-full" perspective. Don't focus on how callow you were. Think about how far you've come and where you'll go. That's what I do — helps me to sleep at night.
Tip No. 2. this one's long. Please bear with me. College is full of young, beautiful, energetic, intelligent, industrious, insecure and often intoxicated people — like high school only legal.
Now I could go into how you should meet these people through one or many of the hundreds of athletic, scholastic, political and cultural clubs and organizations on campus, but let's leave that to the peppery folks from orientation.
These groups are the result of what makes college such a dreamy slice of life, not the cause, which I will get to in a moment.
People are on their own, but they work and live among each other. A degree of tolerance is imperative for everyone to get their proverbial nut.
what I've gathered from reconnaissance into the real, working, post-college world is that people, for the most part, treat one another and their opinions with a certain measure of respect, if not indifference.
So sell out, and join a frat. Revel in pro-establishment perks. Or bust out, and join the protest — any protest. Experiment with facial hair, throw on a pair of hemp underwear and chain yourself to a tree nobody wants to cut down.
but not here, my fledgling Jayhawk friends,
and therein lies the collegiate magic.
You can be an intolerant right-wing nut ball, damning the poor for being so poor, preaching the moral high road, "Rush is right" and all that. You can be offensive liberal, shouting idealistic, more-liberal-than-thou comments in the face of anyone wearing a collared shirt.
either way, some group will embrace you for it, love you even. There's probably a mailbox for it in the Student Union Activities office.
Choose anything in between or beyond, but no matter where you end up on the spectrum, take yourself very,very seriously. That's a luxury that college life affords, and my tip No. 3 is to exploit it while you can.
If you can't laugh at yourself, you're probably in college.
Treating people and their opinions with respect and hoping for them to reciprocate will lead only to frustration. You'll end up on top of the Campanile — that point thing on the hill — with a high-powered rifle, and nobody wants that.
Don't waste time trying to foster a personal relationship with somebody who looks or dresses or thinks differently than yourself when it's not yet necessary — just know that someday it will be.
True, you'll miss out on some enlightening experiences and meaningful friendships, but why go against the grain?
Andy and the other more-clever-than-average freshman may be saying "Tim, you just one semester away from being a freshman in real life and an idiot by your own standard. Why should I take your word for anything? Your a putz."
The reason you should believe me is that I am flat-out, undeniably, exceptionally intelligent.
I must be. In only four short years, I earned the esteemed honor of becoming Associate Features Editor. I've since moved onward and upward to the coveted and powerful position of Associate Opinion Page editor. I was voted most likely to be an associate) by my peers.
But enough bragging. The point is: do I have brains enough to observe and communicate the college mojo? You bet your associate I do.
4
harrington is a Pittsburgh, Penn., senior majoring in journalism.