4A
Thursday, October 3, 1996
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VIEWPOINT
Payroll problems need attention of University
University of Kansas employees repeatedly have received late or incorrect paychecks since the University switched to a biweekly pay schedule and new payroll software in January.
The University should take action to solve the glitches in the payroll system and end the frustration caused by paycheck errors. The payroll problems are difficult for the payroll staff and the employees who receive incorrect pay.
Technical problems with the computer system and a lack of effective communication between payroll staff and the computing center have been cited as the sources of the error.
William Crowe, vice chancellor for information services and dean of libraries, has pledged to improve the channels of communication and hire extra staff to fix technical difficulties. He should receive the full support of the administration and staff in his efforts to correct this complex problem.
A meeting held last week gave the payroll staff an opportunity to voice concerns. Some staff are confused about where they should direct questions when system problems arise.
Payroll staff also are perplexed by the large amount of time they must invest in payroll difficulties, which sometimes cause them to neglect other duties.
All involved hope that an end to payroll errors is in sight. KU employees should be able to look forward to payday as a time to be rewarded for their job frustrations and difficulties, not as an additional annoyance.
BRENT SUITER FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Teaching about giving back: Professor supports libraries
In July, Walter Kollmorgen, a retired professor of geography at the University of Kansas, decided to pledge $250,000 to support KU Libraries. This kind of contribution is an example of giving back to those who have made an impact in a person's life and is an example that should stand against the many selfish role models presented in society today.
Kollmorgen founded KU's geography program. Soon after, the first master's degree was awarded. Kollmorgen was named a distinguished professor in 1963 and is now a professor emeritus.
Kollmorgen required some special assistance from the library staff. He had been stricken with polio when he was a child. He was impressed with the way he was treated. When he had the opportunity to give back to those who were kind and helpful to him in his years at KU, he took it. This kind of action is far too uncommon in today's avaricious society.
With football players refusing to play until they are paid more than $10 million, baseball players charging fans for autographs and politicians replying to correspondence with form letters, there are not enough examples of behavior such as Kollmorgen's in our society. Too many times, people who have reached their positions in society forget those who helped them along the way. People should repay those who have helped them become successful.
While gestures such as Kollmorgen's are not unheard of, they occur far less than they should. All people — from the high-paid athlete to the inexperienced worker — owe a debt to those who got them where they are. Most realize this, but few go out of their way to repay it.
Despite all Kollmorgen has done for the University, all the years of work and sacrifice, he still thought that he owed something to those who helped him when he needed it. This kind of behavior, too often absent in today's society, is more than laudable: It is an example to everyone.
GERRY DOVLE FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
KANSAN STAFF
AMANDA TRAUGHBER
Editor
CRAIG LANG
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MATT HOOD
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Shawn Trimble/KANSAN
"You look great," a friend of mine told me during lunch last week. "Are you doing heroin?"
"No, I just don't eat," I replied. "It's cheaper."
"The male wai look is super-chic. You look just like Renton from Trainspotting — those dark circles under your eyes, that pasty skin. Only one thing."
Meeting beauty standard is a struggle for thin men
"What?"
"You're too thin."
I considered removing my eyeballs and handing them across the table in a ttrum of medieval proportions but decided that Marcus Schenkenberg, the premier male supermodel, would do no such thing. So I sat there, pouted and drank some water. And I thought about how hard it is to be a guy in this decade.
Darn the luck; it seems that advertising — the sexist, vain institution our gender invented — has morphed from a faithful Fido into a commercial Cerberus, back to nip at our heels. Somebody forgot to change the standards before we had to measure up to them.
I knew doom was fast encroaching when Star Search added a male spokesmodel category. Now Antonio Sabato Jr., clad in his Calvin Kleins, stares down his lats at me from billboards.
Magazines report on the recent emergence of male supermodels and attendant feelings of inadequacy; on the explosion of gym memberships, and — shockingly men actually using them; and on
That permanent fixture in *Details*, whose chin is so sharp it could shave itself, tortures me to the point that I have to blacken his teeth in with a marker so I can read Anka in peace.
STAFF COLUMNIST
men lining up to be manicured,
pedicured,
implanted, lifted,
waxed, plucked,
shaved and salted.
All of this is not news — and certainly not unamusing — to women.
But take pity on us; it's rougher on guys. Those weights are
heavy. Quick-fix solutions such as bulimia are not an option. Men tend to make themselves throw up only after an overly arduous drinking session, by which time those pesky fat molecules seem to have absorbed. We can't blame our deficient physiques on having the wrong body type — the refrain, "Dude, I'm just small boned" will not soon be echoing throughout locker rooms.
Even a half-hearted backlash won't help. Last month, Calvin Klein launched his Ulyg People campaign, in which he shoved some
Nobody gets any slack anymore. Nobody gets to be slack anymore. There are no excuses. There is no hope. We have no choice but to go to the gym.
scary-looking fry cooks from the Deliverance diner into his jeans. Maybe he was trying to shock people into buying denim jackets (a sales tactic I'm dubious about — but cheers for the ingenuity).
And no longer can men ignore male models by complaining that they're all gay and that a similar commitment to one's appearance would lead to an appreciation of Bronski Beat lyrics. This has been clinically disproven. The only difference between gay and straight men now is that straight men care about having buff bodies. Gay men care about the coverings they place on their buff bodies.
Sadly, ol' CK found the ads didn't work. The simple fact is that good clothes look better on beautiful bodies. As we buy the clothes, we hope to buy a bit of the body that exhibits them.
Again, old news. Women have been subject to the cruelty of mirrorism for decades. Now men increasingly face the same pressure of finding a look. Being buff is always acceptable, as long as you don't cover yourself with plaid. Junkie is an option, but first, make sure you aren't one to begin with.
Inevitably, some people will carry vomit stains better than others. Being scrawny is OK, with conditions: you can look like an extra from Oliver Twist, but only if you're toned enough to wear tank tops under your rags.
Of course, some of you don't have to care about your bodies. You, I call lucky. Then there are you brave-new-world citizens who choose not to concern yourself with physical matters. You know who you are: you with the circa 1988 braided leather belt stretched thin as dental floss, ye with the recently revoked Permit to Be Shirtless. You, I call dateless.
The male beauty myth is mythical only in its standards, which are based either in Greek mythology or episodes of Baywatch. No, it's very real. And it's getting pretty ugly out there.
Michael Martin is a Lenexa sophomore in English.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Kansan article offends, embarrasses student
I found the article not only to be degrading and embarrassing to me, but embarrassing to the
I am writing about the article in the Sept. 23 edition of the Kansan.
Black Student Union as well. The subtitle, "Group jokes about embarrassing topics," couldn't have been put worse.
I figured that being a journalist, one was supposed to look at things from the people's, or in this case, the audience's point of view. It is very clear that this was not done.
If it had been, then this subtitle would not exist. I feel the lack of professionalism in this article shined through tremendously.
■ Kendra Taylor Kansas City, Kan., freshman
David Duke's debate invite sparks anger at university
Public universities traditionally have been among the most diverse communities in this country. With significant numbers of minorities present, such communities have no place for discrimination.
So why would a student body president risk upsetting this harmony by bringing in a man affiliated with an organization committed to narrow-mindedness and intolerance?
That is the question people should be asking Vladimir Cerna, Associated Students president at California State University-Northridge. Cerna was instrumental in bringing David Duke, former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klu Klan, to the university Sept. 25 to debate civil rights leader Joe Hicks about affirmative action.
As would be expected, the news of Duke's visit did not sit well with many students, and a riot erupted. Police, outfitted in riot gear and wielding batons, moved into the crowd, clubbed one protester on the head and made about 10 arrests.
Arrests and an injured student, all because of a demonstration that was perfectly justified. The injured student probably will recover, but the arrested students may have a permanent stain on their records. And for what? Protesting racism? Since when has that been a bad thing?
Granted, the United States does guarantee freedom of speech, and Duke had the right to speak, but students cannot be blamed for reacting against a man who gladly would deny many of them rights simply based on their race or religion.
One would think Cerna was guilty only of stupidity for not foreseeing such a reaction, but he claims to have known exactly what was going to happen. "We anticipated exactly this type of reaction," he said. "If I had a chance to do it all again, I would."
Call me crazy, but does Cerna sound a bit callous and sadistic? I find it disturbing that a student body president knew he was offending students and predicted a violent riot but still held the event and would do it again. I thought the purpose of student government was to serve the students and improve campus life. Cerna's actions have proven his mission is exactly the opposite. The only thing he has achieved is getting his university in the news.
It makes me wonder what the officials at California State-Northridge are doing. Doesn't anyone oversee the actions of student government? If Cerna foresaw the riot, didn't school officials, too? This whole episode sounds like some sick play to gain media attention. What other reason would Cerna have for wanting to do it all again? I certainly hope the university does not aspire to offend its students and cause them to riot. Having students beaten and arrested by campus police is something universities should try to avoid, not promote and celebrate.
I am in no way suggesting that universities refrain from bringing in controversial speakers. But I fail to see how a debate between a civil rights leader and David Duke merited such a disturbance. With all of the controversy about affirmative action, it would not have been difficult to find someone other than a nationally known racist to argue the negative side.
Cerna should be working to bring peace and order to his campus, not trying to create unnecessary riots.
Steph Brower is a Chester, Conn, sophomore in Journalism and French.
Information for this column was gathered from Associated Press articles.
THE AVENGING VARMINT
By Lili Barrientos