OPINION
MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2004
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
EDITORIAL
www.kansan.com
Free For All: Participate in part of campus culture
Every year the same conversation comes up: Should The University Daily Kansan keep the Free For All, the section of the opinion page where the paper publishes reader comments left on voice mail
Some people believe the Free For All harms the credibility of the Kansan. Yes, it probably does affect the paper's credibility, especially when comments slip through the cracks. It hasn't been without controversy. Last year, for example, people blamed the column for David Padgett's departure from the men's basketball team, saying the negative comments published about his performance drove him away.
Others say the column lacks professionalism, and many have written letters to the editor or called to complain about published statements.
With all this negativity, it's hard to believe that any paper would continue to publish such a column. The Kansan continues because controversial or not, people read the Free For All everyday. Published comments get people thinking and talking. When it isn't published, the phone lines light up with people upset they didn't get to read what their fellow students were thinking on that particular day.
the Free For All is a great way for the paper to connect with its readers. The Kansan is a college paper read by mostly college students. You and your phone calls keep the paper real. You let us know what you really are concerned about and what your interests are. You can criticize the paper or add your
thoughts about articles.
Some people even become icons of the call-in column. Whatever happened to the "Gene Hackman is God" comments or the discussion about pancakes and flapjacks? Where's the that-in-your-pipe-and-smoke-it character? Have people forgotten the official title of the thundersticks once handed out at KU basketball games? From noonan to noonai, Free For All callers become part of the college culture and make the Kansan unique. The next iconic Free For All statement might belong to you, and while your name won't be published alongside your quote, you could still bask in the glory of your Free For All fame.
Call the Free For All, and let the student body know what you're thinking. However, calling all day and leaving obscene and slanderous messages is not okay. The Free For All is edited just like any other section and must be held to the same standard as the rest of the paper.
People want to read statements that are witty, funny, creative, intelligent and perhaps even bizarre. Let the Kansan know what it is doing wrong or doing right. You can call from your residence hall room or the other side of the globe: 864-0500.
Wherever you call from, you can know that your comments add to the culture that is the Kansan. Call today, and by the way, Gene Hackman really is a god who eats pancakes. Or is it flapjacks? Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
Free for All
thing?
Call 864-0500
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.
For more comments, go to www.kansan.com.
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Hey, what's up? We just got our phone working. So, suck on those nipples. Bye.
Dude, whoever found my wallet, and returned it to the bank in the Union. Thank you so very, very, very, very, very much! You are my savior, and I would like to marry you. Thank you.
Three cheers for crushes on the first day of classes!
Oh, it's good to have the Johnson County female SUV drivers back in town. You know, it's really not necessary to pass somebody when they're slowing down because of the red light ahead. Ugh!
Was Milo the cat or the dog?
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On another note; a dormitory is known for a large room where people sleep, and is known for disease and infection. A residence hall is where a community is formed and people actually live in.
I just wanted to say that it's the first day of class, and I'm drunk already. Awesome!
You're drunk when your burrito falls on you.
So, Rush Limbaugh doesn't like the University of Kansas. Well, who cares what a fat, gas-bagged junkie thinks about anything?
TALK TO US
Henry C. Jackson
editor
854 or hackson@tansan.edu
Donovan Atkinson and Andrew Vaupel managing editors
864-4854 or datakton@kanas.com and avapekel@kanas.com
Anna Clovis and Samia Khan opinion editors 864-4924 or opinion@kansan.com
864-4854 or hjackson@kansan.com
The Kansen welcomes letters to the editors and guest colunans submitted by students, faculty and alumni.
The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length, or reject all submissions. Letters to the editor should be no longer than 200 words and guest columns should not exceed 650 words. To
Justin Roberts business manager 864-4358 or advertising@kansan.com
Stephanie Graham retail sales manager 864-4358 or advertising@kansan.com
Malcolm Gibson general manager and news adviser 864-7687 or mgibson@kansan.com
submit a letter to the editor or a column, e-mail the document to opinion@kanan.com with your name, hometown, year in school or position and phone number.
For any questions, call Henry C. Jackson at 864-481-0 or e-mail at opinion@anssan.com.
General questions should be directed to the editor at editor@anssan.com.
GUEST COLUMN GUIDELINES
Maximum Length:
Student Length:
650 word limit
Include:
Author's name
Class, hometown (student)
Position (faculty member)
Also:
The Kansan will not print guest columns that attack another columnist.
LETTER GUIDELINES
STINSON'S VIEW
Maximum Length:
200 word limit
Includes:
Author's name and telephone number
Class, home town (student)
Position (faculty member)
SUBMIT TO
E-mail:
obinion@kansan.com
ford capr:
Kansan newsroom
111 Stauffer-Flint
Stop excuses for bad parking
GUEST COLUMN
Here's an all too common situation: You decide to park your car in a parking lot for which you do not have a valid parking permit. It's only going to sit there for less than 15 minutes while you run into a building to turn in a paper. When you return, you see that infamous pink envelope lying under your car's windshield wiper. The initial reaction now is to curse at the stalking-in-the-bushes techniques used by the parking department in order to personally ticket your car.
This is not the fault of the parking department.
In a time when people will sue others for simple acts of common senselessness, it is understandable that college students too would use scapegoats, especially in a situation dealing with money extracted from their pockets.
But there comes a time when college students need to start setting more examples by accepting their personal mistakes
The University of Kansas did not create the parking department in order to funnel money from college students in an uncontrolled, irresponsible fashion. The parking department, much like any other KU department, was established to uphold rules and regulations. The job of the parking department is to regulate on-campus parking.
NATE KARLIN
opinion@kansan.com
Now, you may be saying to yourself that it's only 15 minutes. Sure, it's 15 minutes, but would you make the same conscious decision to park in one of the
millions of handicap spaces at Wal-Mart? Try using that reasoning with the Lawrence Police Department when you receive a ticket.
Every student at the University should expect the sudden appearance of a ticket writer whenever he or she parks in a lot.
The department shouldn't be blamed for a conscious action from a student who is in a hurry.
Here is the difference between the parking department and other KU departments. The parking department is completely self-sufficient. It does not receive tuition or state funding. Donna Hultine, director of parking, said this self-sufficiency allowed the University to spend more money on students rather than on the department.
Because the department does not receive this outside funding, it does not cap off permit sales. Last year, according to the Web site, www.ku.edu/-parking, the department oversold permits by 24 percent.
This may seem ridiculous of the department, but once again don't curse its employees. The oversale of permits is common at other universities, including Missouri, Kansas State and North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Take another look at the situation from a glass half-full perspective. Would you rather have an opportunity to park on campus or be the student who gets denied a permit because the department has already filled its maximum allotment?
If you choose to buy a permit then think about options to avoid a highnoon showdown with another car in a parking lot.
Schedule more early morning classes.
Perhaps only a few students reading this column will choose to wake up early to find a parking spot and then listen to a lecture. But if some students do take this option, more spaces will be available later in the day.
What you choose to do with parking is your decision. But consider how to avoid a game of beat-the-clock with the parking department before you curse its entire purpose at the University.
After all, you knew the parking department could be stalking in the bushes.
Nate Karlin is a Marietta, Ga., junior in journalism. He is a member of The University Daily Kansan's editorial board.
Discover a new comfort zone
Many people here at the University of Kansas - administration, faculty and students - take pride in being a part of a diverse campus. However, when one thinks of diversity on campus, what often comes to mind is ethnic diversity. There are students and faculty of various races, ethnicities and nationalities at the University. But that's not total diversity, much less multiculturalism.
NOT UNHEARD OF
TARA SCHUPNER
opinion@kansan.com
A large chunk of the bigger picture is missing: disabled students. Even the University of Kansas Policy on Diversity of the Student Body neglects to mention disabilities as a component of its diversity spectrum.
The United States Department of Education's National Center for Education Studies states that more than nine percent of all undergraduate college students in 1999-2000 reported having at least one disability. Out of 16,538,000 college students, 1,508,000 have a disability. By these statistics, the University has more than 2,500 enrolled students with a disability.
The office of Services for Students With Disabilities sees only 500 students.
"No campus serves all its disabled students because not all want to identify themselves as disabled, they do not need services or they don't know they
These three causes of the gap between the number of students SSD serves and the actual number of students with disabilities on campus can be addressed and alleviated by increasing awareness of disabilities on campus
can get services," said Mary Ann Rasnak, interim director of the department.
"The cultural definition of a disability has tended to focus on visual, hearing, and physical limitations," Rasnak said.
MON
If you have a disability, you should not be ashamed to admit that you have some kind of limitation or to seek assistance. Students who continue to hide their disability may encounter unnecessary problems and stress in college, as well as in the workplace.
Don't bury your disability and make your life harder than it needs to be. Reach out, seek awareness of your disability and learn what you can do to circumvent your difficulties.
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At some point during your college career or in the workplace, you will encounter an individual with a disability. Awareness of disabilities can help you understand and interact with greater ease.
Step out of your comfort zone. It may be easier to talk with your own friends or stay with the same type of people. But are you really learning anything new? If you meet disabled students, be open-minded and talk with them.
Most importantly, get involved. Volunteer your time. The department is always looking for people to work as note takers, scribes, readers and aides. By volunteering, you can gain a greater appreciation of the difficulties many disabled students overcome in order to succeed in college.
Keep in mind the ancient Chinese proverb, "Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand."
Involve yourself, and you will understand that people with disabilities are not a people set apart. They are just like you and me.
Schupner is a Lenae senior in journalism and English. She is deaf.
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