4A
Tuesday, October 29, 1996
OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VIEWPOINT
Departments need to join efforts when scheduling
Many biology majors recently encountered one of the most frustrating aspects of the University system: Scheduling conflicts between required courses in different departments.
According to an Oct.18 Kansan article, as many as 150 biology majors are affected by a time conflict between Chemistry 188 and Physics 115 offered next spring. This conflict may force some students to take heavier course loads next fall.
Although most University administrators say they are empathetic to the students' difficulties, they continue to claim that little can be done to correct the problem. However, scheduling conflicts affecting large numbers of students could be resolved by planning and communication between departments.
Departmental course schedules for the current semester were planned years ago, which is exactly the reason there should be no conflicts large enough to affect 150 students. Although the scheduling officer and chairperson of a department have no control of the schedules of another department, there is no rule that says administrators of different departments cannot work together.
Most of the fundamental science courses are taught in large lecture halls because departments lack the resources to hire instructors for smaller classes. This leaves students little room to maneuver if the courses are taught at conflicting times. The basic science courses that are often taken concurrently should be scheduled at non-conflicting times.
Students often are told by their advisors to plan ahead The University should heed its own advice.
BRENT SUITER FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Ryun is running from media in Congressional campaign
In the 2nd Congressional District elections, Jim Ryun, Republican candidate to replace Sam Brownback seems to be running his campaign as well as he ran during his years as a track star at the University.
However, Ryun also seems to be running away from the media by avoiding interviews and news conferences. Ryun has stipulated that his family must be present at every media appearance. Therefore, to schedule an interview with Ryun or ask any question, one must schedule an appointment with the whole family. Recently, Ryun chose not to attend a candidate forum at the University. His opponent, Democrat John Frieden, withdrew from the forum after Ryun did. The major candidates for the 3rd Congressional District, Republican Vince Snowbarger and Democrat Judy Hancock, attended the forum.
Candidates should have the support of their families during a campaign, but Ryun's interview conditions are impractical and irresponsible. If one is running for a public office, then he should submit himself to the inquiries of the voting populace to ensure that voters are informed, instead of evading the media and the issues.
At the heart of Ryun's qualms about meeting with the media without his family are his traditional family values. His values denote a patriarchal system where the father, with a mother's advice, oversees every aspect of his children's upbringing. This system includes courtship, where a suitor must meet the criteria of the father to date his daughters. A patriarchy in today's era of female empowerment and independence of young adults is questionable in promoting personal growth, thought and development.
Although the validity of Ryun's beliefs is a matter of opinion, the facts of his belief should be made available for clarification for the public. His obstruction to this process depreciates the value and meaning of the vote, and Ryun should consider rectifying this problem before Election Day.
PHONG HU FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
KANSAN STAFF
AMANDA TRAUGHBER
Editor
CRAIG LANG
Managing editor
MATT HOOD
Associate managing editor for design
KIMBERLY CRABTREE
CHARITY JEFFRIES
News editors
DARCI L. McLAIN
SARA ROSE
Public relations directors
Editors
Campus ... Susanna Lóď
... Jason Strait
... Amy McVey
Editorial ... John Coltier
... Nicole Kennedy
Features ... Adam Ward
Bill Petulae
Associate sports ... Carlin Foster
Online editor ... David L. Teaska
Photo ... Rich Devkind
Graphics ... Noah Musser
Special sections ... Andy Rohrbach
Dabble Staline
KAREN GERCSH
Business manager
HEALY SMART
Retail sales manager
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
JAY STEINER
Sales and marketing adviser
JUSTIN KNUPS
Technology coordinator
Campus mgr ... Mark Ozmek
Regional mgr ... Dennis Haupt
Assistant Retail mgr ... Dana Centeno
National mgr ... Kirsty Nye
Director of Production ... Hankie Neve
Production mgr ... Dan Keope
Lisa Quebboman
Marketing director ... Eric Johnson
Creative director ... Desmond Lavelle
Chief HR ... Robbie Wright
Mass impact mgr ... Dena Plicotte
Internet mgr ... Steve Sanger
Shawn Trimble/KANSAN
Banana incident shows that we can't take a joke
I've always considered the banana a good fruit, as fruits go. While it lacks the flash of an orange or an apple, the banana is no rhubarb. It may not be the sweetest or brightest, but it's mild, smooth and goes down easy — the Michelob of fruits. As the main food staple of Curious George the monkey, the banana is anything but offensive.
This is why I was so shocked to read of a recent assault involving — you guessed it — a banana.
Apparently, on Oct. 16, two KU graduate students became engaged in a vicious exchange of a rotten banana, which involved the placing of the bruised fruit upon the bed of one and in the doorway of the other.
The confrontation soon escalated, with one roommate threatening the other at gunpoint. Fortunately there were no injuries and no arrests. However, the banana is currently being held for questioning.
The moral of the story is, of course, if you must put fruits on your roommate's bed, stick with those in the melon family because they stay fresh longer.
Everyone knows the type. It's the prank-calling, bra strap-snapping, spit wad-shooting, underarm-farting
However, this incident is also demonstrative of a larger trend toward the phasing out of America's pranksters.
STAFF COLUMNIST
degenerate who everyone hated but laughed at in grade school. Such people used to be called jesters and got paid to act foolish. Today these people are known as politicians. But for those in the private sector, it is increasingly difficult to get a laugh without getting run
ished, for the simple reason that today everything has a consequence and few can take a joke.
If you make a prank call, it gets traced and the police get called. If you put a banana on your roommate's bed, he pulls a gun. If you travel the country, throw millions of dollars around, and say you want to be president, people actually put you on the ballot in all 50 states. Can't anyone take a joke?
In the old days, to my knowledge of the greek system (according to the movie Animal House), such
Obviously not. Consider a fraternity recently suspended for various violations of pledges, including paddling, head-butting, and various other pro-wrestling maneuvers.
behavior was seen as boys just having a good time with the pledges. After all, a paddle here, a head-butt there is good for a young lad.
But today such action will not be tolerated by the University, and don't be surprised to see those who were involved severely punished.
They may even be asked to comply with the harsh, 12-point plan recently imposed on another fraternity, which basically amounts to writing, "We will not haze," 12 times on the chalkboard.
Obviously, society has changed, and what once was a joke may now be a felony. Now, there is little room for the prankster.
Of course, there are exceptions, as in the case of the 13-year-old raging hormone who recently visited campus en route to accumulating two grabbed breasts, one grabbed buttock and one pelvis thrust in a five-hour period.
But then again, he is 13, and when his minor status expires and his grabbing makes him eligible for jail, he too will be forced to adjust to the constraints of society. Just what we need — another flasher.
Jeff Murdick is a Topeka sophomore in psychology.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Athletic Department should support band
I am enraged about the lack of support that is given to the Marching Jayhawks by the Athletic Department. The band is called upon time and time again to provide support for the football team. I have attended several football games, and I have always been impressed by the band until this season. And I am not disappointed by the band, but by the speakers at the south end of the stadium. With the Marching Jayhawks CD now available, why not just play it over the speakers? Therefore, no money needs to be spent on band equipment or other frivolous band expenditures (i.e. uniforms) if only the CD is used. I am sure the fans and alumni who financially support your department would not mind. Also, the seats occupied by
the band can now be sold to students.
The Marching Jayhawks provide support for an unappreciative football coach and athletic director. If there is an opportunity for a trip that all the band members must attend and is required, the Athletic Department should show its dedication toward the band. Get rid of the speakers, they do not make anyone happy, and allow the band to do its job, both here and away.
How can the athletic department expect the continued support from the band, when the Athletic Department does everything in its power to shaft the band? In other words, the Athletic Department gets the gold mine and the band gets the shaft. Throughout the history of the football team, the band has always shown its support. However, the reverse has seldom been true.
The band has been placed on the lowest rung of the athletic ladder. When basketball season starts, the department will be the first one to ask for the band's support to rally behind the team. The department does not deserve the respect that is given to it by the band. The band will be there to excite and cheer on our team, but the department will only pay the band lip service.
Dr. Frederick, change the current trend toward the band. Show that they are appreciated and send them to Iowa. Let the band show what can be done at the University of Kansas. I would send my best wishes with the football team; however, the band is not going with them.
Bill Shaumeyer Olathe senior
Trends show U.S. prefers products,not real solutions
Two seemingly unrelated statistics released recently reveal seething contradictions in America's increasingly impoverished human existence.
One was a U.S. government statistic claiming that for the first time, overweight people outnumber average ones. And a report by the United Nations Children's Fund indicated that more American children live in
poverty compared to children in other industrialized nations.
STAFF COLUMNIST
Regarding the weight statistics, those in their 50s are the most overweight. Among them, 73 percent of men and 64 percent of women exceeded the government's recommended weight level.
Those who interpreted this
data had several ideas for reasons behind the trend, including overeating, lack of physical activity and the predominance of television. Fear of crime was another reason. Researchers speculated that many Americans view crime as a reason to stay home, eat more and move less.
Overconsumption is an art perfected by Americans. The practice reveals where the meaning of most of our lives are satisfied: through overeating, shopping for products we don't need and binge drinking. Together, these reports signal the polarization of the haves and havenots. It displays the inability of the haves to drop their stuff and pick up some compassion for the less fortunate.
"I just want to be safe" really means "I don't want to be near poor people because they might take my stuff." It reveals a steady disposition to search for ways to remain securely sheltered and satisfied. Obviously the old adage that you can judge a society on how it treats its most vulnerable citizens does not resonate with many Americans.
In today's political debate, many Americans ask what we can do to stop the impoverished and violent culture that pervades our urban areas and perverts our values. Why does a young man shoot another for a pair of sneakers? Why do so many teen-agers choose to sell drugs? These people just need the lessons of a good job, our political leaders say.
The truth is that these teen-agers laugh at the proposition of making minimum wage and playing by the rules. The cold truth mirrors our own morbund values. Belonging to our world and our values means spending and consuming. To have is to belong. When we turn our backs on the social problems of today and search for belonging through buying more stuff, the message is clear. Having things and, in this case, devouring things is the membership card to our society that prefers products to people.
Right now we discern many of our political and economic elite classes from their gray hairs and protruding bellies, definitely not from their character, which is as frail as the classes below them.
The young people of America know the game. Although they may not have the legal means to buy Nikes, they have the intuition to get their hands on them. The "go out and get yours" motto does not limit itself to a certain class of Wall Street players. Where ethics are absent at the top, usually they will not be found at the bottom.
Andrew Longstreet is a Liberty, Mo.
senior in French and political science.
FATE
By Shawn Trimble