OPINION
MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2004
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
EDITORIAL
www.kansan.com
Welcome to KU; Pardon our mess
It is a big year for building and construction at the University of Kansas. This summer, students encountered new construction projects on nearly every part of campus.
As is the case with construction, there are inconveniences along the way.
As frustrating as things may get during the course of the University's development this year, we should not lose focus on our shared goal of building a greater University.
When looking down the road at the benefits to the University from the current construction and development, it should all be worth the wait.
Most of this year's development is the product of years of hard work. Inconveniences in the building process will resonate immediately, but its positive impact will take longer to be felt.
By looking at the long-term effects of development this summer and upcoming fall, it is easy to see why the costs of improvement are worth it.
This year, journalism students can enjoy a newly constructed, "converged" newsroom in the Dole Human Development Center. Staff from The University Daily Kansan, KUJH and KJHK are all working together in the new facility.
The University's proud tradition of honoring veterans is enhanced with the construction of the new Korean War Memorial. The new memorial honors those in the KU community who served, and it also helps educate students on this important event in history.
The scholarship hall community is seeing a lot of growth this year as construction continues for Rieger Scholarship Hall, a brand new women's hall set to open in Fall 2005.
Several other summer construction projects are wrapping up. Engel Road features a smoother ride after receiving road improvements this summer.
The administration can breathe a sigh of relief after work is finished on repairing a faulty steam tunnel in the area between the Kansas Union and Watson Library on Jayhawk Boulevard. Most exciting to students should be the newly renovated Wescoe Terrace, which now features many interesting new dining options.
For students and faculty, this year is set to be another for building onto the rich academic tradition of KU.
Indeed, development continues to be a key theme at the University throughout the events of this next fall. You are going to be seeing it in the form of new and improved facilities all over campus, and also in the efforts of our students, faculty, administrators and staff to improve on the performances of the past.
It will not all be smooth sailing, and there are sure to be obstacles to overcome, but the benefits of all this building and development are sure to outweigh the costs.
The University is a work in progress, and this year promises to be productive, entertaining and constructive.
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Being drunk in Lawrence is so much better than being drunk in Minnesota.
Who did you call? Hello? Who did you call?
submit a letter to the editor or a column, e-mail the document to opinion@iansan.com with your name, hometown, year in school or position and phone number.
There's a guy in front of the University Book Shop wearing a gorilla suit, and all I can think of is how much it would suck to be that guy.
Hey, what's up with my street name? 15th Street has changed to Bob Billings Parkway now? And Kansan, where were you when you were supposed to warn me of this?
What's up, KU? Jay-nizzle's back in action!
TALK TO US
Henry C. Jackson
editor
954 or hjackson@kansan.com
Donovan Atkinson and Andrew Vaupel
managing editors
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Anna Clovis and Samila Khan opinion editors 864-4924 or opinion@kansan.com
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general manager and news adviser
864.7667 cr mgibson@kansan.com
The Kansan welcomes letters to the editors and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumni.
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STINSON'S VIEW
Zach Stinson/KANSAN
Ready or not, here we come
Like any organization that's been around for 100 years, the Kansan has some traditions.
Some are simple. For example, it's always the Kansan to the news staff and never the UDK, as it's sometimes called.
There's not really a good explanation for this, just a reality that most newspapers, whatever their size and reputation, tend to abscond from initials. The New York Times is the Times in short form, never the NYT. Ditto for The National Enquirer, known simply as the Enquirer when you want to keep it quick.
WELCOME BACK
As a profession, journalism is filled with all sorts of inexplicable traditions. Newspapers big and small have them, and as you read this I'm indulging in one as well.
Each year it's the responsibility of the incoming Kansan editor to write a column for the first paper. It's a welcome back, a "Look what we've changed," a love fest. To me, it's absolutely terrifying.
What do you say? Or more to the point, how do you find a new way to save it?
Inviably, these columns take the same shape each year. One editor after another thinks of a new lead or first sentence for this column. Maybe they find a new slant or they write it in a different way. But year after year, Kansan
HENRY C. JACKSON
hjackson@kansan.com
I'm genuinely excited about what we've got in store for you, the reader. (By the way, welcome back!)
editors revert to welcoming back the students and touting some new ideas.
Dare I buck tradition and face the wrath of the journalism gods?
I'm not so presumptuous. But it's not just fear of retribution or a need to abide by tradition. I'm genuinely excited about what we've got in store for you, the reader. (By the way, welcome back!)
We've made some tweaks to the paper's design. Some of you might notice and some of you might not. Each of them is designed to deliver a product that's more esthetically pleasing and
easier to navigate.
We're also gearing up for a news-tilled semester. Students will help elect or re-elect a president, Student Senate will debate new initiatives and the football team will look to build on last year's improvements — and this is just what we know will happen.
As the semester progresses, we look forward to covering every aspect of the University of Kansas. It's a wonderfully diverse place filled with thousands of voices we'd like to hear.
We'll also look forward to seeing how you react. Journalists cover events for an audience — ours is the University community. So, if there's a story we're not covering or a viewpoint you think needs to be expressed, let us know. Another newspaper tradition is trying to do right by you, the reader.
As I was reminded last week, when I got an e-mail alerting me that the governor of my home state had resigned after admitting he was gay and had an extramarital affair, news happens whether we, the journalists, are ready or not.
This semester we'll do our best to avoid the latter.
Now it's time to start
So welcome back and look at what we've changed. Love fest over.
Jackson is a Long Valley, N.J., senior in journalism. He is Kansan editor.
Please use us, don't abuse us
You can use this paper for the crossword or tear it up at basketball games. You can fold it up and make a lovely swan or wrap it around your 40 of Old English beer.
But if you really want to get the most use out of your Kansan, read the page that you'll support, hate and enjoy all at the same time.
We're the opinion editors for Fall 2004 who will make the opinion page more than just kindling for your keeger's bonfire. It will be fuel for debate on campus, and you won't want to miss it.
FROM THE EDITORS
The opinion staff will be honest, irreverent and entertaining. We're not just here for news: We're here to hold everyone accountable and say the what the news can't touch. You might not always agree, but that's the point. We want dialogue. We want debate. There will be some changes to the page, but old favorites will return. Get out your magnifying glass, because you won't find extra-large type anymore. However, you'll still find diverse student opinions and issues you care about.
SAMIA KHAN & ANNA CLOVIS
opinion@kansan.com
We'll look at the upcoming elections, campus issues and other important topics. Don't worry — we're mixing it up, too. Watch for new columns on lighter debates including sex and the English language. The page will be as entertaining as news can get.
We're not just here for news: We're here to hold everyone accountable and say the things that news can't touch. You might not aiways agree, but that's the point.
It will get you talking and perhaps even taking action.
The page will take your mind places and introduce you to people and ways of thinking that might actually increase
Maybe you'll find an issue you can be passionate about. Whether you're angry or you agree with a column, we'll do a better job of getting your blood flowing in the morning than a cup of coffee.
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Think of all the intelligent and informed conversations you can have whether you're in the bars or in the classroom. By engaging yourself with student opinions, you'll get more out of your time on the Hill and maybe even pick up a few dates with your newfound knowledge. (Hey it can't hurt!)
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Reading isn't the only way to feel involved with campus opinion. We encourage you to share your opinions with us and the rest of the student body.
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Send us your guest columns or letters to the editor. E-mail a columnist and let him or her know what you think.
Use this page to better yourselves and make our campus more intelligent and alive. Otherwise, this would be a campus full of people sounding like Jessica Simpson, which might sound good to some of you, but most of us can't sing and don't have a body that just won't quit.
We're here to engage you, enliven you and make this the best page we can for you.
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Read. Discuss. Respond. We hope you use us daily.
Khan is an Omaha, Neb., senior in journalism and sociology, and Clovis is a Fairfax,Okla., senior in journalism and Spanish. They are Kansan opinion co-editors.
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