OPINION
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8,2004
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
www.kansan.com
Fans take pride: We're not Mizzou
Complain all you want about how Kansas athletics director Lew Perkins has handled the University of Kansas Athletic Corporation and raised millions of dollars for the University since he arrived in Lawrence in 2003.
He may have kicked long-time basketball supporters, including Phog Allen's grandson, out of their seats in Allen Fieldhouse, but he was only trying to raise more money.
Perkins had to force them to donate more money to increase one of the smallest athletic department pocketbooks in the Big 12 Conference. After all, we don't have supporters like the Walton family of Columbia, Mo.
Then again, that's probably a positive thing.
Though the Walton family has donated millions of dollars to the University of Missouri, the wealthy family has also increased the university's national humiliation.
Bill and Nancy Laurie, the latter a Walton descendant, paid for a third of the university's new $75 million basketball arena, which replaced the 35-year-old Hearnes Center.
The Missouri athletics department relied so heavily on this donation that it gave the Laurie family naming rights to the new building.
The family decided not to name the building after long-time coach Norm Stewart, but rather after their 22-year-old daughter, Paige, who never attended the university.
Now Paige Laurie stands accused of paying a peer to do her schoolwork at the University of Southern California.
Perkins may want to construct a football training facility that would block the Campanile view and ruin the graduation walk down the hill, but at least he hasn't nationally humiliated the University.
Another part of Perkins' goals also is treating each sport as an equal part of the University.
The University of Missouri system president, Elson Floyd, told the Columbia Daily Tribune that placing the school's nickname, Mizzou, on the arena was an appropriate
COMMENTARY
NATE KARLIN
opinion@kansan.com
move because the university typically refers to its athletic programs by the nickname.
And because Mizzou is synonymous with Missouri sports, the name "Mizzou Sports Arena" is redundant and makes the university look stupid. Missouri wouldn't want to look any dumber after naming the building after a rich daddy's girl who couldn't graduate on her own.
If the men's basketball program continues to lose to no-name teams, look for the university to change Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium to Mizzou Field at Mizzou Stadium. Without these changes, people could assume that the failing basketball team best represents all sports at the university.
Missouri has put the embarrassing moments behind itself. Could things really get worse for Missouri athletics? Absolutely.
Mizzou women's soccer is on a three-game losing streak to sixth year coach Mark Francis. Mizzou football is on a two-game losing streak to thirdyear coach Mark Mangino.
Mizzou men's basketball is on a three-game losing streak — all of which occurred last season -- to second-year Kansas basketball coach Bill Self. The NCAA also banned Missouri coach Quinn Snyder from off-campus recruiting for recruiting violations.
Zero Big 12 championships. Zero Final Four appearances. Three years probation. One Mizzou Arena. That's what represents the University of Missouri athletics.
Well, at least the men's basketball team.
- Kerlin is a Marietta, Ga. junior in journalism.
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Free for All
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
You know it's a cowboy tradition that for every 1,000 head of cattle you own, you tuck one pant leg into your boots. So, does that mean every time I see chicks walking around with those Ugg boots on and they got their pant legs tucked into them, does that mean they own cows?
I'm at E's and the conveyor belt is going the other way. Either I'm on shrooms, or something else is different.
SafeRide just refused to take me back to my own house. Good to see my tuition money is hard at work.
I am going to go bankrupt buying sex toys.
STINSON'S VIEW
Trojan Man would totally win a fight against Broadband Man.
is it slightly dirty that I'm more attracted to the women on Facebook than I am to the women of KU?
I need a strong, handsome cuddle-buddy.
Are there any of you out there?
I was wondering if the Jayhawk is a real bird because I've never seen a Jayhawk, was wondering if it appeared out of nowhere. If so, tell Roy Williams to come up with a better name.
I'm officially dubbing Facebook not trendy anymore.
I
My roommate's pissed off because when he punches holes in the wall, I think he really needs a cookie.
--is it slightly dirty that I'm more attracted to the women on Facebook than I am to the women of KU?
The Free for All is awesome, but not as awesome as drinking while The Sunday Stew is on.
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Just checking in with all those guys on campus to remind you that you only have until Thursday to ask out that girl in your class you have a crush on. You know who I'm talking about, so get to asking!
I'm thoroughly pissed how ridiculously slow The facebook is going. Is anyone else having this problem, or is it just me?
is it slightly dirty that I'm more attracted to the women on Facebook than I am to the women of KU?
Does anyone remember pogs?
I just joined thefacebook.com and I have the sudden urge to take a shower. I feel so dirty.
You know it's a Senior Day when you see a bunch of backwards walkers directing incoming freshmen into Mrs. E's walking backwards and piling off the charter bus.
My roommate's girlfriend just bought a sex whip and left it on our living room table and now I hear the Devo song *Whip It Good* playing from the stereo. I'm a little confused.
ing in 1995. Other non-U.S. carriers voluntarily complied soon thereafter to be considerate of their customers. Almost 10 years later, any problems that the airlines are having has far less to do with the smoking ban than other factors.
ing in 1995. Other non-U.S. carriers voluntarily complied soon thereafter to be considerate of their customers. Almost 10 years later, any problems that the airlines are having has far less to do with the smoking ban than other factors.
OK, yeah. So, my roommates and I are all proud of how I totally washed my hair today because I haven't done that since Friday.
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My roommate has posed this serious question: She's wondering why there's braille at the drive-in ATM. Are blind people really driving up to the ATM and if so, there is a serious problem there. We'd like to know if blind people drive. Or not.
ing in 1995. Other non-U.S. carriers voluntarily complied soon thereafter to be considerate of their customers. Almost 10 years later, any problems that the airlines are having has far less to do with the smoking ban than other factors.
Zach Stinson / KANSAN
Smoking ban opposition ignoring health, progression
Those folks who continue to oppose Lawrence's smoking ban are sounding more and more like the smoking lobby itself for every day that the city won't allow them to light up at everyone else's expense.
If they're not flat-out denying that smoking has any health-related effects, that realization won't be too far off.
At least for now, they're ignoring the fact the tobacco, and the second-hand smoke it produces, is a significant health risk. Instead, they're taking the hard line stance that free enterprise should override the public's health.
After all, why should 3,000 deaths a year from lung cancer because of second-hand smoke really matter? It's chunk change when you compare it to the 35,000 deaths from heart disease attributed to the nicotine-polluted air.
The opponents could go a step further and just imply that the 3 million deaths from smoking every year are insignificant. Left ignored a little while longer, that figure will likely expand to 10 million a year, according to the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission.
That's even more than the Holocaust of WWII. I don't equate defenders of smoking to Nazi sympathizers, but their rhetoric of saving the economy through improving businesses and free enterprise is barely less ridiculous than fascism.
STEVE SPEAKS
But it is just idiotic to tug at the public's heartstrings by claiming that we need smoking to keep businesses running.
Smoking defenders predicted the downfall of the airline industry when it was forced to get rid of on-board smoking in 1995. Other non-U.S. carriers voluntarily complied soon thereafter to be considerate of their customers. Almost 10 years later, any problems that the airlines are having has far less to do with the smoking ban than other factors.
STEVE VOCKRODT
opinion@kansan.com
And maybe the smoking defenders in Lawrence aren't nearsighted enough to see past simply the city's economy, but smoking takes a major toll on the world and national economy.
The World Bank said that health care costs to treat those afflicted by smoking cost the global economy $200 billion dollars per year.
The Centers for Disease Control said that the United States claimed $75 billion of that share in direct health costs, not to mention $82 billion sacrificed in lost productivity. That means employees are too sick from tobacco-related illnesses to show up to work, or that they are dead from it.
Even further, there are several examples of cities that have banned smoking, but continue to thrive. New York City has done well in this respect.
But even pretending that Lawrence might be the exception, why should it even matter that a few burgers go unsold, or a prime rib go uneaten, espe-
canyne considering the detriments that smoking causes?
The smoking lobby has done a poor job of convincing the public that tobacco taxes produce any meaningful revenue that outweighs the economic and social nightmare it creates. It's depressing to consider the smoking industry in contrast to other carcinogenic industries that were forced out the door.
If only the asbestos and saccharin lobbyists put their money in the right places — for instance, in the pockets of politicians — like the tobacco industry has, we'd be stuck with triple the cancer-causing contributors.
True, patrons may find a few less places in Lawrence to buy a beer and fries, but it won't take further than a stone's throw to arrive at another place that will. A couple businesses may fail, but other businesses will adapt and thrive.
A lesson in laissez-faire economics could do some of these smoking apologists some good, because Adam Smith's invisible hand will continue to remove the cigarette butt from customers' mouths in Lawrence.
But those other two industries were outlawed, and the trend is curving toward the tobacco industry going the same route, or at least toward heavy regulation.
If business owners don't want to go out of business, perhaps they should make their product more compelling so that it doesn't rely upon smoking to bring in the money.
Vockrodt is a Denver senior in journalism and political science.
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR Pacific fans left Lawrence with respect for Jayhawk fans
The weekend of Dec. 4, we made the trip from northern California to Lawrence for the KU men's basketball game against the Pacific Tigers. By the end of the weekend, the three of us agreed it was the best trip ever. When we arrived at Saturday's game sporting orange and black Pacific gear, we weren't prepared for walking through the tunnel and being resoundingly booed by thousands of KU fans.
We were floored by the intense environment at Allen Fieldhouse. The south end student section will remember us as the three tall guys seated behind the Pacific bench who took the brunt of much of your ridicule. Despite the taunts and jeers, we had nothing but respect and admiration for both the intense passion and knowledge of the KU fans, both at the game and afterwards on Massachusetts Street — a mutual respect that was echoed by the dozens of people we met. Thank you Lawrence, Ken...we love 'yal
C. Cotton, Aaron Davis and Barry Marvel Sacramento, CA
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