Opinion
Kansan
Published daily since 1912
Julie Wood, Editor
Laura Roddy, Managing editor
Cory Graham, Managing editor
Tom Eblen, General manager, news adviser
Brandi Byram, Business manager
Shauntie Blue, Retail sales manager
Dan Simon, Sales and marketing adviser
Scott Valler, Technology coordinator
Thursday, September, 23 1999
lamie Patterson / KANSAN
Editorials
Student Senate could take step to involve non-senators in process
Members of Student Senate are considering a bill that would enable more students to think that they are a part of the legislative process.
This bill would allow committee members who are not senators to co-sponsor a bill with a senator. Though these committee members still would not be able to act alone in sponsorship, it is a big step toward making members more involved in the process.
Although largely symbolic, it is a good idea for several reasons. First, in the past it has been difficult for committees to retain members, in large part because these students thought that they had little influence. Second, it could help future senators learn more about the process. It also could
Bill is an important step in involving more students in writing legislation
help create a more cooperative and inclusive environment in committees among senators and non-senators.
Part of the YOU Coalition's platform last year was to involve more students in Student Senate. One step has been to vary and move the locations of its meetings and make them more accessible to students.
This proposed bill is another positive sign indicating that senate members are trying to get more students involved.
This proposal is not a dramatic
change. Senators still would be sponsoring the bills. Basically, non-senators would have their names on the legislation, but their roles would not be significantly different. But sometimes all it takes for a person to feel more included in a process is a small inclusive step, such as this bill.
Progress still needs to be made before a large amount of campus involvement is present in Student Senate, as indicated by low voter turnout.
Every step Student Senate is willing to take to broaden student opportunity for involvement should be embraced. Students who are not elected as senators should be able to make a real impact in getting things accomplished through Student Senate.
Emily Haverkamp for the editorial board
Jumping the gun not police's job
The recent slayings of suspects by members of the New York Police Department have spiraled out of control, causing dire consequences. Excessive police brutality must be stopped.
For example, in late August, Gideon Busch was shot 12 times by four NYPD officers after a neighbor called to register a complaint that Gideon was brandishing a hammer. Police said, Busch was emotionally disturbed and attempted to strike one of the officers with a steel hammer. It was at that point that the officers opened fire and hit his torso with the fatal bullet.
In recent months the NYPD has
Recent shootings highlight the need for prudent judgment in the use of deadly force
had problems approaching suspects and has resorted to extremely violent measures to subdue them. There was no reason to kill Busch, as he was mentally unstable and probably had no intent to kill an officer. Instead of offering this mentally ill man help, the officers shot him without attempting to use other means to subdue him.
Police officers are given the duty to protect and serve their citizens
and are given great power and authority under the the law. We understand the pressure that officers sometimes suffer and appreciate their willingness to put their lives in ieopardy for the public.
But as evidenced by the Busch incident, some officers are abusing their power, and as a result, unnecessarily taking people's lives. Their duty to protect and serve must be scrutinized so officers do not overstep their limits. Busch's death should serve as a clear indicator that police sometimes use excessive force and that police should not remember they are not above the law.
Rupali Limaye for the editorial board
News editors
Kansan staff
Chad Bettes . . . . . . . . Editorial
Seth Hoffman . . . . . . Associate editorial
Carl Kaminski . . . . . . News
Juan H. Heath . . . Online
Chris Fickett . . . Sports
Brad Hallier . . . Associate sports
Nadia Mustafa . . . Campus
Heather Woodward . . Campus
Steph Brewer . . Features
Dan Curry . . . . Associate features
Matt Daugherty . . Photo
Kristi Elliott . . Design, graphics
T.J. Johnson . . Wire
Melody Ard . Special sections
Becky LaBranch ...Special sections
Thad Crane ...Campus
Will Baxter ...Regional
Jon Schlitt ...National
Danny Pumpelly ...Online sales
Micah Kaftz ...Marketing
Emily Knowles ...Production
Jenny Weaver ...Production
Matt Thomas ...Creative
Kelly Heffernan ...Classified
Juliana Moreira ...Zone
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Brad Bolyard ...Zone
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Broaden your mind: Today's quote
"The future belongs to those who prepare for it today." — Malcolm X
**Letters:** Should be double-spaced typed and fewer than 200 words. Letters must include the author's signature, name, address and telephone number plus class and hometown if a University student. Faculty or staff must identify their positions.
How to submit letters and guest columns
All letters and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Chad Bettel or Seth Hoffman at 864-4924.
Guest columns: Should be double-
spaced typed with fewer than 700 words.
The writer must be willing to be photo-
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if you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4924
Perspective
T in six months, if everything goes as planned,
I will move to Israel.
Why stay home when it's not a small world?
I I've been in Israel before, and I've studied abroad three times. The difference this time is that I don't know if I'm coming back.
I've been asked why more generally, why I want to work and live abroad. I've been asked why I'd want to live in country plagued by terrorist attacks. I've been asked why I'd want to live in another country at all because we have everything in the United States.
I've been asked why I want to go to Israel and.
Steph Brewer
features editor
screenwriter.com
But do we? I love the United States and know that our country has a lot to offer, but there is a whole world out there.
Until I went to college, I only could dream of this
world. My foreign experiences had been limited to Canada and the Bahamas. When the opportunity to study abroad in Paris the summer after my freshman year arose, I jumped at the chance. That summer turned into a spring break trip to London and Glasgow, Scotland, which turned into a year abroad in Besancon, France, followed by a spring break trip back to Besancon and ending with my summer in Israel.
Traveling is exciting, but, much more than that, it's enriching. My experiences have not always been positive — I've had my wallet stolen in Cannes, witnessed a man publicly masturbating in Rome and been hopelessly lost in Poland. But I've come away from each experience wiser. Leaving your comfort zone is scary, and many people don't see a reason to do so. However, I don't think anyone can truly live without at least once delving into another culture and forcing the phenomenon of being a stranger in a strange land.
Just when you think you know everything, you'll eat a big meal and announce in French that you're pregnant when you really mean to
Despite my zeal for travel, I have struggled with my decision to move to Israel. This summer I woke up every morning and thought about the fact that I'd be graduating in December and leaving my family and friends to live in a land where camels are a common sight and shoppers rarely enter a mall without having their bags checked for bombs.
Traveling is definitely a humbling experience. No one cares that you're from the "greatest country on earth" when you can't even buy a subway ticket. These pitfalls always are embarrassing at the time but later turn into funny memories and valuable lessons about respecting others. It's easy to laugh at those who don't know English in the United States until you have found yourself in a similar situation in another country.
say that you're full. And this is if you can speak the language at all.
I loved being in Israel this summer, but I'm not yet to the point of feeling at home there. I almost changed my mind a million times. I almost convinced myself I'd be better off working at an American newspaper.
But then I thought, if not now, when? Many of us are just beginning our lives. We are young and free, without families and jobs to tie us down. It is the perfect time to dive into the unknown and expand our horizons. Our options are numerous ranging from study abroad to volunteer work or teaching English as a second language.
Leaving home is scary, but denying yourself the experience of a lifetime for fear of the unknown is scarier. It is easy for Americans to get stuck in a nationalistic rut. We live in a democratic nation and many of us lead safe and comfortable lives.
Safe and comfortable can be limiting, though. Many think the "American way" is the best way. But how can you know what is the best if you never experience anything different?
Brewer is a Killingworth, Conn., senior in journalism and French.
Feedback Science standards still will be tested
I've read in the Kansan several times lately about different KU groups, most notably Student Senate, condemning the Board of Education's new science standards. Nearly all these groups indicate that they condemn the new standards because they feel that students will not be adequately prepared for college if they are not taught evolution in primary school.
I would just like to point out that, although the BOE removed evolution as a requirement at the elementary and middle school levels, state science tests for high school students will still include evolution and the Big Bang theory. In my opinion, postponing the study of evolution until high school will not be detrimental to Kansas students. Perhaps Student Senate based its decision, not on the actual science standards, but on overgeneralized newspaper headlines.
Erin McDaniel
lawrence sophomore
Blood deficient buzz a bad idea
Amber Stuever's article [Kansan, Sept. 21] on replacing blood with beer is true journalism genius. Not only did it outline exactly what needs to be done in order to gain a plasma-deficient buzz, it blatantly promoted the use of the Allen Fieldhouse blood drive to help achieve such seniority in intellectual life. What's more, can you believe that the most serious of consequences to such action would only be a (possible) 3-day headache (or 3 line paragraph on alcohol poisoning)?
The work holds just about as much journalistic integrity as Katie Hollar's front page breakthrough on exactly how to perfect your fake ID. Publishing rubbish like this anywhere is bad journalism and should have been edited by the writer before hand touched paper. And if it were to go so far, equal reporting should have been used — at least one quote from Watkins on the dangers. Is that too hard to arrange or think of?
This waste of what you determine to be front-page material only adds to the detritus which UDK reporting has turned to. You are journalism students. Write something useful.
Keith Hagan Oklahoma City senior
Dean will be missed
As a former employee of the Graduate School and as a graduate student who was very involved in graduate student governance at KU for the past five years, I can tell you that Dean Debicki and his administration (a very small group of people) made great strides in making the University administration and graduate departments aware of graduate student needs and contributions at KU. Much of the information we now have (and which we are still receiving) about how graduate departments meet the variety of needs of graduate students is a direct result of his administration's hard work and care. Dean Debicki was also instrumental in securing funding for a number of fellowships for graduate students; in addition, he and his wife, Mary Elizabeth Debicki, former director of the Office of Study Abroad, made a very large financial contribution to graduate student fellowships (many thousands of dollars) last year. I know I speak for many graduate students who appreciate his concern for our well-being and his efforts to make our presence on campus more visible and viable.
I would like to express my gratitude and respect for Dean [Andrew] Debicki, who will be retiring as dean of the Graduate School and International Programs in July to return to teaching and research.
I absolutely support the format changes that 105.9 the Lazer has made. I now have at least three stations where I can listen to my favorite bands like the Backstreet Boys and 'N SYNC.
Christine Robinson Lawrence graduate student
Naked article was impotent journalism
In your impotent attempt to be winsome on the front page of the Kansan on September 21st, you appear to be sanctioning sexual battery. Katie Hollar's article on alleged sex-offender William Morris comically juxtaposed with the photo of a male flasher was not only in poor taste but relegated the aberrant behavior of a potential serial rapist to the level of benign freshman "antics." Instead of "Your basic naked guy," Hollar's article could equivalently have been titled, "Boys will be boys."
Hollar's article and its accompanying visual aid presented aggravated burglary and deviant sexual behavior (exhibitionism and public masturbation) as if it were the KU Play of the Week. Comments like, "It's certainly not rare...(male) exhibitionists were commonly products of repressive, religiously harsh or judgmental backgrounds," further implied that
these local break-ins and attacks were nothing more than the actions of an inane streaker acting out. Full of excuses for this "common sexual dysfunction," the article succeeded in exonerating criminal invasion while degrading normal men as if they were all capable of such public perversion solely by the virtue of their gender and upbringing.
Ms. Hollar clearly neglected to research criminal sexual behavior; according to John Douglas, renowned FBI profiler, such nefarious acts frequently escalate to serial rape and further psychopathic violence. I hope that in the future the Kansan exercises greater discretion when depicting crime on campus or in the community.
105.9 The Loser?
Do you agree with this statement? Then speak up! By not letting the "Loser" know that we do not support its decision to play Top 40 then the message is the same as above.
Further, has anyone questioned the big survey that was done to conveniently change their format? Over the summer, I took a survey that I believe to be the same one that they used to justify this decision. Should this be the case that this survey was taken over the summer, none of you had a voice in the decision, and you have been double crossed. There is no interest in Lawrence folks. It's all about an untapped market in Top 40 west of here. Anyone listened to the fact that they now say they are "Topeka and Lawrence's hit music station?"
Darcy Prilliman Bartlesville, Okla., graduate student
We all need to speak out against this corporation that has no interest in Lawrence. If the bands stop coming here, what will happen to the Granada? The Bottleneck? The implications of the format change are far greater than turning off your radios. I urge all of you to not only write letters to the "Loser" but to boycott local businesses that choose to advertise and support the new format. Only when people feel the pressure in their wallets will we have our beloved 105.9 back. Unless of course you are waiting for Jordan Knight to play the Granada.
Andrea Lewis-Austin Denver senior
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