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 Vallier, Technology coordinator
Thursday, August 26,1999
Seth Jones/ KANSAN
Editorials
Decision supporting gay Scouts may set questionable precedent
Earlier this month, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the Boy Scouts of America could no longer dismiss or exclude gays from its organization. The decision was met with nearly unanimous approval in the gay community but was roundly criticized by others, especially in the religious community.
While on its face this decision seems like a step in the right direction, the New Jersey justices may have set a questionable precedent.
The main thrust of the court's argument in favor of forcing the Scouts to accept gays hinged on the idea that the organization is a "public accommodation" that must be open to all Americans.
This argument just doesn't hold up to
The Boy Scouts is not a public organization and should have autonomy in choosing members.
scrutiny. The Boy Scouts of America is a private organization that is free to determine its own requirements for membership. It raises its own money and is beholden to no one. As such, members rightfully may expect to be able to say who can and cannot become a Boy Scout.
There is a strong American tradition of freedom of association in which people are free to belong to any private group they see fit. This freedom applies even when the majority of citizens disagree with the views of the private group. And, just as free speech allows one not to
speak, freedom of association allows one not to associate with a group they disagree with.
Moreover, forcing the Boy Scouts of America to admit gay Scouts and Scoutmasters will do nothing to address the homophobic attitudes underlying their discriminatory admission policies.
There have been reports in the past week that the Boy Scouts of America may voluntarily drop its ban on gay Scouts so as to prevent future litigation of this sort. Dropping the policy for fear of litigation misses the point. If the decision is ultimately made to welcome gay Scouts, it should be made with the knowledge that homosexuals are members of society just as heterosexuals with the same desires to serve the communities in which they live and work.
Jennifer Roush for the editorial board
Straw poll's only benefit is new voters
The Republican campaign for the presidency has trudged forward since the Iowa Straw Poll that was held Aug. 14, but not without change. Though it may seem that the campaign is just beginning, presidential candidate Lamar Alexander took the poll as his cue to drop out.
The first problem with the Iowa poll is that it is symbolic. It possesses little meaning in the grand scheme of things because of its unscientific nature. The second problem is the carnival atmosphere in which voters are given alluring freebies for their votes. Steve Forbes, beneficiary of an immense inheritance and the ability to buy just about anything — including votes — spent enough money to finish second to front-runner George
The carnival atmosphere and unscientific nature of straw polls makes results vague.
W. Bush, who has amassed enough campaign funds to fill several Iowa barns. With the amount of wealth and name recognition these two candidates possessed, the real race was for third.
The surprise of the weekend was the third-piece finish of Elizabeth Dole. Not only did she turn some heads by placing third, but she also brought out a whole new voting base. College-age women across Iowa came out to support Dole, who is stirring up interest in previously politically
apathetic young women. A network of women from Dole's sorority, Delta Delta Delta, even came out to show their support. Any tool that brings out young, new voters definitely is a positive.
Despite the new voters, the real question is, did the poll really matter? The answer is no. It is far too early to decide this race, and, even though candidates such as Bush and Forbes have large sums of money, they aren't invincible. The race should not be conceded yet, and candidates such as Alexander should not feel compelled to drop out only because they show poorly in straw polls. Candidates and voters alike should remember that the election is still a year away.
Emily Haverkamp for the editorial board
Kansan staff
News editors
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 Kafitz . . Marketing
Emily Knowles . Production
Jenny Weaver . Production
Matt Thomas . . Creative
Kelly Hefferman . Classified
Juliana Moreira . Zone
Chad Hale . Zone
Brad Bolyard . Zone
Amy Miller . Zone
Advertising managers
Broaden your mind: Today's quote
"Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain."
Lily Templin
**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
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All letters and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stuaffer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Chad Bettles or Seth Hoffman at 864-4924.
If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4924.
Perspective
school year camper cover
OK, so it's not a terribly original thought, but the transition between summer and the rest of the year is much less obvious than it used to be.
It occurred to me last week as I trudged up 14th Street to my very first class of the school year. Summer is over.
Joy of school shopping eases return to classes
Lydia Taylor columnist opinion kansan.com
When we were younger, summer days of unfettered freedom suddenly were replaced by hours trapped inside of dull classrooms with the overwhelming smell of floor wax. Now, devoting your present life to that oh-so-prestigious convenience store job is suddenly replaced with devoting your present life to that oh-so-prestigious ballroom dancing class.
Not much else changes between summer and fall. Sure, your wallet is significantly lighter after a trip to the bookstore. Sure, you (theoretically) have to get up before noon. When you really boll it down, though, there is no difference. One hopeless tedium is replaced with another. Hours of mindless work are replaced with hours of numbing monotony.
Days tend to blur together with no way to distinguish between them. All I know is that I'm tired and it's been a long, long time since I had a chance to take a nap.
Can you remember when you were young, and going back to school was a happy event? Yeah, neither can I. Have my scant 19 years completely ripped away the sense of wonder that everyone possesses when they are small?
For kids, though, the return to school is an exciting time. Last week, I had a conversation with a certain young boy I know who happens to be starting the second grade. All he could talk about was going back to school and how happy he was to do so. Wide-eyed with excitement, he told me about his upcoming school year.
More than anything else, one ritual used to mark a return to books and teachers with sharp pointers and evil eyes. Back in the glory days of elementary school (and to a lesser extent, in
I'll admit that I judge grocery stores on the basis of their school supply aisle. I'll admit that I can't go into a discount store without spending at least five or 10 minutes in its office supplies section. The day during my freshman year when I purchased my very own three-hole punch was a happy day indeed. And not too many things are more intoxicating than the wood smell of a brand-new pencil.
During the summer, I happened to discover that a local discount store was offering 12 cent notebooks. I couldn't resist. I went by, spent a glorious time, bought seven or eight notebooks, even splurged on a Scooby-Doo book. For a brief moment, that child-like innocence had returned.
Postpone your daily trips to the bookstore to see if your anthropology textbooks have come in. (They haven't.) Take a break from your studying, or from your partying, or from setting up the perfect residence hall room. Let's all go get notebooks.
Oh blessed event! How long for erstwhile days of innocence, triumphantly returning home with sacks of paper, pencils, crayons, watercolors, even the requisite box of facial tissue ...
middle school and high school), there was at least something one could count on to ease the abrupt return of the school year: the Great Annual School Supply Shopping Spree.
When you come back victorious with your Trapper Keeper and your pencil pack, maybe just maybe, the studying will seem a bit more interesting. Maybe it will be a little bit easier to wake up in the morning for your classes.
OK, so maybe I was a book-nerd. OK, so I do still have a strange (and possibly unhealthy) fixation with office supplies.
And,hey,you can't beat 12-cent notebooks.
I used to think that I was alone in my obsession with all things paper and ink. Since coming to college, though, I have met many, many other people who share a kinship with me in this, people who also thought they were alone and collected Post-Its in secrecy.
Taylor is a Wichita junior in journalism and anthropology.
Freshmen, gray hair leave senior feeling her old age
I've walked on campus the last few days, and I've seen thousands of young, fresh faces walking proudly next to me. Sometimes they look a little confused, sometimes a little lost, but nonetheless, they look excited. They are excited about the college years awaiting them and the grown-up experiences they are beginning. I still have this year left — my senior year — my last year of true freedom before
The single gray hair growing from my head is getting longer. Does that mean I'm getting old? I feel old, older at least.
Sarah
Hale
guest columnist
opinion@kansan.com
take the next step and join the daily grind of the newspaper business. And while this is exciting in its own right, my outlook as I trek up and down the University of Kansas' Jayhawk Boulevard is different — gloomy in some ways.
The freshmen, all of them, are excited to be here. Awe, independence. I've heard them, and you've heard them, talking about their rooms in the residence halls, wondering where to nick up their foot;
Signals of the impending aging process have been in the works for a while. First, one friend got married and then another. Then, one friend moved away and then another. Instead of picturing my life next month, I have started picturing my life five years in advance. Instead of receiving advice about the best bar to drink at underage, my mentors have begun to tell me
They walk around with fire in their eyes and ambition in their hearts. And while I like to think that the emotional side binding me to the University of Kansas hasn't deadened, I'm looking forward to life after college. Yes, I think I'm getting old.
ball tickets or praising their new English 101 instructors. I heard myself say the same things my freshman year.
I have fire in my eyes and ambition in my heart, but it's not about the University. It's about the life I'll be starting in May. That's why I'm getting old. I think I'm going to pull the gray hair sprouting from my head. I hope the freshmen still can recognize me.
What is age exactly? To me, it's more than the number you tack to the end of your name in commas. It's about experiences and living life. Maybe I'm feeling older and ready to move on because I've taken in everything this University has to offer. I walk down the campus sidewalks taking everything in, but not waiting for anything especially spectacular to happen. I guess I've seen it all before.
It also wasn't a problem when another freshman woman stopped me in front of the Union. She said she knew the Spencer Museum of Art was nearby, but she hadn't a clue where. I sent her down the stairs and out the door.
Assisted suicide not answer for unbearable pain
Never before have the freshmen asked me for help. See. I think I'm getting old.
It wasn't a problem when another freshman woman stopped me in the bathroom and asked me where she could pick up her bus pass. For starters, the bathroom definitely isn't the place to retrieve it. I sent her to the Union's sixth floor.
Hale is a Wichita senior in journalism.
about job applications and health insurance. It's more confusing to me than learning the KU campus. It's also more exciting.
It wasn't a problem when a freshman woman stopped me at the bookstore in the Kansas Union. She was looking for an anthropology book, and her friend was as clueless as she. I helped her and sent her on her way.
My senior standing has made me a target for freshmen seeking advice. Either that, or this group of freshmen is the friendliest so far. The first day of school several freshmen stopped me to ask for help. Do I look as old as I feel? Do I have a sign plastered to my back that says, "Ask me, I know"? I guess I look like I've been here a while.
Feedback
In the Monday, Aug. 23, University Daily Kansan, Erik Goodman for the editorial board argued that suicide and euthanasia should be permitted in this country on the grounds that patients should not be forced to live lives of unbearable pain. Physicians for whom pain control is a special area of competence, such as Dr. Ron
Don Marquis
Professor of Philosophy
Stephens, who is on the palliative care committee at the KU Medical Center, and Dr. Kathleen Foley, who is the palliative care specialist at the Sloan-Kettering Cancer in New York, argue that pain can be controlled in all but possibly rare instances. It is plainly unreasonable to alter the law concerning homicide when the need is slight and the possibility of abuse is great.
Now taking applications for columnists and cartoonists
Come by Room 111 Stauffer Flint Hall for an application, or call Chad or Seth at 864-4810
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