4A
Tuesday, October 31, 1995
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE ISSUE: CLASS DISRUPTION
Campus ban is too restrictive
The Lawrence City Commission's ban on in-line skating within 100 feet of Jayhawk Boulevard is senseless and discriminatory. In-line skating should be permitted on campus after 5 p.m. and on weekends.
Skateboards should continue to be banned because they do create hazards.
In-line skating is not only good exercise,but it is also a relatively inexpensive form of transportation.
Since skateboards are not attached to the user, it is never certain what the board will do if it separates from the rider. This presents a potentially dangerous situation for pedestrians and property. Prohibiting skateboard use on campus is understandable. But the ban
Lawrence City Commissioners should ease restrictions prohibiting in-line skating on Jayhawk Boulevard
on in-line skating is not backed by the same safety concerns.
In-line skates are easily controlled because the wheels are attached to the skater, and in-line skates are at least as safe as bicycles and safer than cars.
The ban deprives students and Lawrence residents from enjoying the campus' beauty and from the opportunity to skate in relative safety.
Unless the City Commission is prepared to outlaw cars and bicycles based solely on potential injury, it makes sense to relax the ban on in-line skating on campus.
BRIAN RUNK FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD.
OPINION BRIEFS
Student activism encouraged
Last Friday,members of KU Environs and the Student Environmental Action Coalition staged a protest as part of the International Day of Action for Free Burma. The University of Kansas campus should be used as a forum for students to organize and express their concerns about issues such as this.
These student organizations wanted to raise awareness of the corporations (including Pepsi, whose products are sold in the Kansas Union) that
contribute to the military dictatorship that governs in Burma. Sixty five students participated in the protest.
These students should be commended for exercising their right to assemble. Because protests can increase recognition of problems and encourage change, those wanting to initiate action should organize. Students and student organizations should continue to carry signs and chant slogans as a way to peacefully vocalize their concerns.
Group shows it's worth financing
The Feminist Collective Force has established itself as a vibrant and positive influence since becoming an official Student Senate financed organization in October.
The group was originally denied financing by the Senate finance committee because members disliked the use of the word "feminist" in the group's name.
The Collective Force has been active in educating and informing people about issues of equality as
well as domestic violence awareness. It is good that both women and men have found a forum to address these issues in a constructive way.
The bottom line is that the issues the group addresses are not only women's issues. They are human issues that should not be minimized, and the message should not be limited to members of the organization but embraced by everyone. Listen to them and get involved. Ignorance is no excuse.
KANSAN STAFF
COLLEEN MCCAIN
Editor
DAVID WILSON
Managing editor, news
ASHLEY MILLER
Managing editor, planning & design
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
Editors
STEPHANIE UTLEY
Business manager
MATT SHAW
Retail sales manager
JAY STEINER
Sales and marketing adviser
Hnews & Special Sections...Deedra Allison
Editorial...Heather Lawnzw
Associate Editorial...Sarah Morrison
Campus...Virginia Marghelm
Associate Campus...Teresa Vaezay
Associate Campus...Paul Todd
Sports...Jenni Carlson
Associate Sports...Tom Erickson
Photo...John Keenan
Wire...Robert Allen
On-line coordinator...Tina Passett
Business Staff
Jeff MacNelly / CHICAGO TRIBUNE
In the end, it really doesn't matter what Farakhan thinks, or Bob Dole or Newt Gingrich. What matters is that marcher Craig Strong has vowed to become a better husband and father. Marcher Thomas J. Miller is taking phone calls from new volunteers left and right at the SCLC. And high school student Jason Stepp, who also attended the march, has decided that it's important to take part in the political process and has said he will register to vote when he comes of age. What else really matters?
Campus mgr ... Meredith Henneng
Regional mgr ... Tom Dutce
National mgr ... Heather Barnes
Management mgr ... Nancy Euston
Production mgr ... Nancy Euston
Marketing director ... Katherine Kratsy
Public Relations director ... Behni Gahl
Creative director ... Bridget Bloqumart
Senior Director ... Kelly Connelly
Internship/co-op mgr ... Kelly Connelly
Donna Davis is an Overland Park graduate student in higher education.
Fear of Black voters fuels march critics
A recent Newsweek article about the Million Man March stated exactly what everyone has been waiting for: that African-American men who attended the enormous gathering of family and fellowship in Washington truly had taken some valuable lessons home with them and that they actually had made real changes in their dismal, sad lives.
The article, too, pointed out another remarkable trend among those who met at the Mall — some were willing to give up their middle-class lifestyles in order to bring more brothers into the fold. One man relinquished his business to his wife so that he could spend time volunteering at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, where he could register voters and finally make a difference.
With all of the bickering about the numbers of men who marched, one fact has become obvious: Conservative Americans, especially those on Capitol Hill, are petrified at the thought of so many African-American voters. And with the Newsweek article reinforcing the idea that African-American voter registration indeed will rise, frightened politicians are scrambling to downplay the many positive parts of the march.
In my Media and Minorities class, our professor asks us to keep an eye on media trends and to listen for racist overtones in everyday news reports. With the coverage of the Million Man March, this assignment has been especially easy.
Louis Farrakhan, of course, was an easy target because of his horrific statements and bigoted views. But I fear the Newt Gingriches and Bob Doles of the world really are not concerned by what one man thinks or says. They are more interested in attacking Farrakhan for the sole purpose of invalidating the goals of the marchers. It seems hypocritical to me. Conservatives move to cut affirmative action and other programs that assist minorities, arguing that there must be a demand for self-reliance. They downplay a significant event for African-Americans desiring to determine their own destiny.
STAFF COLUMNIST
First, there was the number thing — how many were actually there? Then, on many nightly news shows, anchors have talked about how "peaceful" the gathering was and how "respectful" the men were. True observations, to be sure.
However, the focus seemed to be on how shocking it was to see so many African-American men in one spot not fighting, rioting or tearing up the place. These anchors also thought it was important to tell how many arrests there were — one — at the march. I wonder whether arrest reports were highlighted when other groups chose the Capitol Mall as the place to cry out their messages.
Race, economic status not an issue in abuse
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
I would like to emphasize that race and economic standing cannot and do not figure into the equation of murder. People of every race and economic standing has at one point murdered their spouse.
I am writing in response to Mike Royko's column in the Oct. 19 University Daily Kansan.
More often than not, people are set free or they cut a deal that gives them a reduced sentence. It does not matter whether the defendant hires a dream team of lawyers or the court appoints the public defender.
The obsessive behavior observed in men who beat their wives does not just end in divorce. Many women can attest to that, as well as can many tombstones. Mike Royko misses the point that even a wealthy white man kills because the behavior is not
I'm not saying that men who kill their wives are never convicted of their crime, but I do want to emphasize that what happened at the O.J. trial is something that often occurs.
I want people to understand that nothing will change until we stand together to advocate intolerance toward domestic violence. Until we do this, men who kill their wives, Black, white, rich or poor, will continue to receive a slap on the wrist.
Christina Beard
Overland Park senior
The common viewpoint was that the woman was the property of the man, and what happened in the home was a family problem that should be solved in the home, not in the courts.
The problem remains that the attitude in this society relating to domestic violence and domestic murder is one of indifference. For years, there were no laws on the books to punish a man who beat his wife or who raped her.
based on money and race but on obsession and power.
African-American men need faith in our society to attain goals
Only one word can describe the Million Man March: magnificent.
Almost one million African-American men marched in Washington to encourage atonement so that they could take their rightful places in their homes and communities.
GUEST
COLUMNIST
I, as an African- American woman, supported them every step of the way and will continue to do so. I support them because they have promised to change their ways and to be producing, not reducing, factors in our communities. It will be these changes they make within
themselves that will begin to make changes in the African-American communities and eventually will change society.
African-American men haven't been given the chance to prove themselves without the stereotypes of society working against them. We, as African-American women, always have trusted and supported our men, but that is not enough. They need the support and faith of society so that they can accomplish their goals.
Out of this march a new leader has risen within the African-American community — the Rev. Louis Farrakhan. He preaches from the scriptures of the Bible and the Koran and inspires the African-American community with these teachings.
Some people say that he is too controversial to be a leader, but that is probably because these people don't know the truth. There is only one truth and that is the truth that America has been hiding behind for almost 500 years. We, as a society, humans, must learn the truth so that the truth spoken by Farrakhan will not come as a surprise.
We, as a human race, need to come together and help each other for the benefit of the whole. If you aren't for the movement, you shouldn't try to hinder it but get out of the way. If you can't put aside your pride to educate yourself about the truth, then this train will pass you by and leave you blinded by the dust.
I was concerned for the men marching in Washington because of the unrest that it caused. Some members thought that the march would just add wood to the fire that burns on racism. Some people thought that Farrakhan would divide the nation even more.
Krista Morgan is a St. Louis graduate student in health education.
I was concerned by some of the reactions that resulted from this march. I was concerned that some angry white-supremacist mob would try to overtake the marchers acting upon its impulses of fear. This is the fear that African Americans have figured out the ways and reasons for this oppression and how to get around it. Unity, intellect and determination will help all ethnic groups to overcome and rise above their oppressors.
I'm sorry to inform the white supremacists of the world that we, as people of color, have been working toward this goal for the longest time, and we will stop at nothing. For those of you who do not take part in these racist, white-supremacist beliefs, I implore you to assist all people of color in the accomplishment of our goals of justice and equality. Take the time to understand who we are and what we stand for.
HUBIE
By Greg Hardin