4A Monday, August 26,1996 OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN VIEWPOINT Downtown bookstore should be welcomed The development of a Borders Book Shop in downtown Lawrence should be welcomed by the community. In deciding whether to accept the project, the City Commission should not follow the Historic Resources Commission's rejection of the new complex. Its decision was based on the false assumption that a building that would be demolished has historic value. The Historic Resources Commission apparently was swayed by arguments that one of the buildings to be demolished, the Lawrence Buick Co., at the corner of Seventh and New Hampshire streets, had historical value. A study conducted for the city in 1994 by Three Gables Preservation Co., a private historical preservation company, determined that the building was not worthy of preservation. In addition, the city's already strong economy would become healthier with the new development, which is planned for the block at New Hampshire and Rhode Island streets between Seventh and Eighth streets. Another issue of concern is the effect the new store would have on small businesses in the community. Downtown Lawrence is not an environment for big chain stores," said Pat Kehde, co-owner of The Raven Bookstore, 8 E. Seventh St. She said that locally owned stores lost 15 to 20 percent of their business to big chains. Debi Moore, assistant director of economic development at the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, said she hoped the changes would not have an adverse effect on the city's small businesses. Even though some stores may be hurt by the new development, Borders could boost Lawrence's overall economy. While every effort should be made to ensure that the new buildings improve the aesthetic value of downtown, the new store's presence is in the best interests of Lawrence. THE KANSAN EDITORIAL BOARD Faculty bonuses may improve legislators' view of education Half a million dollars are pouring into University of Kansas classrooms to reward faculty who excel in the art of teaching. Sixteen professors on the Lawrence campus and four at the KU Medical Center will receive checks for $5,000 from the W. T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence and the University Endowment Association. During the next five years, this program will disburse $500,000 to good teachers. Not only will the program provide an incentive for faculty, but it will send a message to the Legislature. If the private sector has decided that education is something worthy of support, perhaps certain members of the House and Senate will reconsider their definition of state-supported education. "This was done to show Kansas that there is not only great research going on at the University of Kansas but that we have some darn good teaching as well," said Jerry Samp, president of Commerce Bank, who is helping Chancellor Robert Hemenway distribute the checks. As usual, not everyone is happy. Some have commented that the money could be better spent elsewhere. But what better goal is there than rewarding teachers who genuinely try to teach well? John Scarffe, director of communications for the Endowment Association, said, "They offered $250,000; we said we'd match that. Why would we want to turn that down? We are among the top 12 endowment funds in the country. If we would give our money to the University as part of its operating expenses, we wouldn't have any money left." In an age when education and educators have become the targets of budget cuts, it is wonderful to see the private sector responding by rewarding those who stay on to build an educational community. TOM MOORE 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 DARCIL McLAIN Public Relations Director Campus ... Suzanne Lóel Jason Strait Amy McVey Editorial ... John Collar Features ... Nicole Kennedy Features ... Adam Wint Associate sports ... Bill Petulli Associate sports .. Caryln Foster On-line editor ... David L. Teaska Photo ... Rich Devkind Graphics ... Noah Muser Andy Robbins Special sections ... Amy McVey Wire ... Debbie Staine AUREN GERSCH Business manager HEALY SMART Retail sales manager TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser JAY STEINER Sales and marketing adviser JUSTIN KNUPP Technology coordinator Editors Campus mgr ... Mark Ozdemk Regional mgr ... Denna Haupt Assistant Retail mgr ... Dana Centeno National mgr ... Krista Nye Special Sections mgr .. Heather Valler Production mgrs ... Don Kopec Marketing director ... Lisa Quebbman Public Relations dir ... Sara Rose Creative director .. Desmond Lavelle Clasified mgr .. Shelly Wachter Shawn Trimble / KANSAN Ex-freshmen should help the new kids on the block I've been there, I think to myself as I watch my hapless freshman roommate attempt to repair his alling PC. The grunts and shouts of frustration, the prayers of, "Please let this work," muttered through clenched teeth, the exasperated return to the toolbox for a hammer — they all are too familiar. Computers are useful, powerful tools, and sometimes it seems as if they know it. It is my turn to play that role. Computer trouble is one of those experiences that show up in everyone's life, like the 17 pounds of coupons, planners and other shameless advertising stuffed in sacks from the bookstore. There is a set of standard-issue situations for every freshman. And I guess now that I'm a sophomore, I can look at those situations and laugh at myself. I am one of few sophomores blessed with three freshman roommates this year. Like an episode of Mr. Bean, I get to sit back and watch them grow up, going through the ups and downs of getting to know the University of Kansas. But running through the whole episode is that I've been there feeling. And I think back to all the upperclassmen who straightened me out when I was confused: enrollment, advising, add/drop and everything that followed. It is not something one thinks about — the importance of the relationship between upperclassmen and freshmen. Before I started college, I heard all the stories about how cruel the seniors were to the freshmen, and those stories contribute quite a bit toward the anxiety that characterizes freshmen. But when I got here, I found people who saw a little of themselves in my plight and decided to help me out. STAFF COLUMNIST They still do contrary to popular belief, a sophomore is just a freshman with 30 credit hours and a little more attitude. We've dealt with difficult professors, impossible classes and laborious term papers. We owe something to the students who fill our shoes this year. That is why it is important for me, and my fellow ex-freshmen, to take an occasional break from the rush of upperclassmanhood and reach out a hand to the newcomers. We've been there, and we survived. We've waited in line for seats at Allen Field House. But I know what it is like to be lost completely, inundated by classes, sports and something called a social life. And for the most part, I've come through it all right. It begins with a welcome. It is simply a wave of the hand. It is giving someone that unique gift of remembering their name, of introducing them to other people, of respecting them and treating them as friends, It thrives on memories. Those unforgettable road trips, memorable moving days and classic late nights watching cheesy movies are what make up the college years. not children. But the other half of the equation is equally important. Freshmen must realize that upperclassmen aren't just a source of degradation and intimidation. There is a reason why college is more than one year long; so we can learn from those who have gone before. That means, freshman, that you first have to ask questions. No matter how plain and simple the catalog looks, have someone explain it. There is always a certain hoop you have to jump through that isn't listed. There is the essence of college life and of life beyond the ivory tower. We have to talk to each other, and we have to listen. And chances are, someone in your living unit has run into the same problem and can save you a lot of embarrassment and maybe a little money. Second, you have to listen. Not everything out of your elder roommate's mouth is a pearl of wisdom, but for the most part, you are better off not plugging in the Discman when he starts talking. The man before you knows the trail ahead as well as you know the back of his head. Andy Rohrbock is an Andover sophomore in Journalism and political selence. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Clinton abandons vow to help poor citizens Shame on Bill Clinton for selling out the poor and the needy of this country in what amounts to an election-year cave-in to rival any other in recent history. The president's decision to sign the shamefully shortsighted welfare reform bill, which is currently being shuffled through Congress, is a move that will win him marginal respect from conservatives, who will soon happily cast votes for his opponent in November. Ironically, those same individu This welfare reform bill will reinquish federal control of social welfare programs' day-to-day operations to state agencies. The goal is to open the door to states and allow them to create new systems specifically structured to suit each state's needs. vent a massive migration of impoverished Americans to their state in search of the best benefits package. It appears that Bill Clinton's commitment to be the "Man That Ended Welfare As We Know It" is greater than his commitment to defend and protect this nation's poor. Unfortunately, we live in the real world. Financial concerns will force states to rush to the lowest possible level of compliance with federal guidelines in order to pre- als will ultimately lay the blame for the tragic ramifications of this legislation on the shoulders of Bill Clinton and at the doorstep of the Democratic Party. Shame on you, Bill Clinton. Shame on all the hypocrites and double talkers who dine at election fund-raisers and claim to feel our pain but quietly stab us in the back. André M. Espinosa Lawrence senior HUBIE Cyber punks are scheming to take over the universe This year, as seniors approach graduation, freshmen begin their quest for intellectual enrichment (the ultimate buzz) and the rest of us attempt to decipher sidewalk chalk messages around campus, a younger computer-literate generation is planning a takeover. I recently uncovered a plot that will put everyone born before 1980, with the exception of Bill Gates STAFF COLUMNIST (wait, is he really that old?) at the mercy of those young enough to buy tickets to a Kiss comeback concert, naively thinking, "Hey, these guys look pretty cool." Consider as evidence for this plot the following message left for my 15-year-old brother on my family's answering machine. "Listen. . . We've got trouble. The mud is out of control. Ninety percent of the users were implementers. . . There were implementers making other gods implementers. . . There were people making regular people that logged on that we don't even know implementers. I did player file white, and only we will be implementers! There will be no more implementers! We have to talk about it; it's way out of control, and it's crazy. Look, I gotta go before they trace this call." (All right, I made up the last line.) My original interpretation was that the individual who left this message was merely some fruitcake hopelessly immersed in a computer fantasy, so much so that it never occurred to him that such a message, delivered with the urgency of a 911 accidental torso amputation call, might seem odd to the non-implementers of my family. I soon realized that there had to be something more to it. And while the boys down at the FBI have yet to break the code, I am convinced my brother and millions of other young computer nerds are conspiring to conquer the world. I believe one process involves shrinking entire cities to fit on a single Sony Mini Disc. If Scott and his comrades are successful, every time some poor fool such as myself steps through a doorway, he'll get hit with 200 volts (roughly 6,984 gigabits in computer terms) of electricity. Although I know of their plan, there is nothing to do but wait out my final years of freedom. Realistically, what chance does a simpleton like myself have against a smaller, weaker, less educated but technologically superior sixth grader? Sure, I could fight him or challenge him to a video game on my home turf (Coleco 2000). But what's the use? Even if I won, all he'd have to do is program a group of computers to kick my butt. Jeff Mudrick is a Topeka sophomore in psychology. It may sound paranoid, but what legitimate excuse, besides playing Pac Man, could any person have for spending 10 hours a day in front of a computer? Take Scott Konzem, also known as "The Lawrence Whiz Kid," a 12-year-old computer prodigy featured in Monday's *Kansan*. Scott spent the summer at the University of Kansas, learning the ins and outs of computer programming, or so he says. I say his fancy words like html, java script, and hard drive (whatever that is) are merely a front to confuse us illiterates and prevent us from unveiling his true intentions — to implant a computer chip into the earlobe of every mammal without an e-mail address.