4A
Tuesday, September 19, 1995
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VIEWPOINT
THE ISSUE: KAW RIVER DREDGING
Dredging will harm residents
Those who drink water in Lawrence may ingest higher levels of toxins if the possible dredging of the Kaw River is not stopped.
Two years ago, the Victory Sand and Gravel Co. of Shawnee applied to U.S. Corps of Engineers to dredge the Kaw River in northern Douglas County for sand. The company met protests from Lawrence residents and withdrew the application a few months later.
In a sly political move, Victory Sand and Gravel Co. resubmitted the application in December 1994. The second application moved the dredging site one-half mile north and just out of Douglas County into Jefferson County. The proposed site is four miles from Lawrence.
A landfill, which was in operation before waste dumps were regulated, is one-half mile south of the proposed site. It was closed in 1981.
If the river is dredged, the buffer zone between the
Erosion would let toxins from a former landfill leak into the Kaw. a major source of water for the city of Lawrence.
landfill and the river could deteriorate faster, as the dredging would cause premature erosion. This would allow the toxins from the landfill to leak into the river at a much faster rate. In turn, the cost of purifying the water would rise dramatically.
For the health and safety of all Lawrence residents, the Victory Sand and Gravel Co. should not be allowed to dredge the Kaw, one of two main sources of Lawrence's drinking water. The dredging poses a risk to the environment and to the community that uses it. Anyone who drinks water in Lawrence should help to stop the proposed dredging.
For information on how to help stop the dredging write to: Eileen Larson, 2043 E.1250 Rd., Lawrence, KS 66044.
CHARITY JEFFRIES FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
THE ISSUE: CLOTHING REQUIRED
Owner should bare with results
Rather than tot his club's individuality, Jeff Wallace, owner of NiteOwls, voiced bitterness and naivete about the success of his club. He blamed unsavory customers for making him discontinue the club's clothing-optional policy.
Wallace said that a handful of his customers were disrupting the enjoyment of others by behaving like exhibitionists. He directed his unhappiness particularly at men over the age of 40 and homosexuals who frequented the club.
Unfortunately, Wallace did not take reality into account when he opened his business. Every night club attracts a diverse clientele, but public establishments cannot discriminate just because its owners disapprove of certain elements of society. If middle-aged men want to show their assets, they have that right, in the correct environment. Wallace provided that environment. He just didn't like the results.
Apparently, he expected NiteOwls to resemble a party at the Playboy Mansion, where beautiful young men and women frolic in some sort of decadent bohemian jamboree.
No-clothes option didn't show right results to owner, but he needs to realize that businesses attract diverse groups.
Instead of complaining about some of his patrons forcing him to change to a clothing-mandatory policy, Wallace should continue to promote his club's uniqueness. NiteOwls is one of Lawrence's only late-night clubs where people can go after all the bars have closed. The club does not serve alcohol, but customers can bring in their own drinks. He no longer can rely on nudity to be his club's selling point.
NiteOwls may not have attracted his ideal audience, but Wallace should not have set his standards so high for what he described as a minority of his customers. He should worry more about settling his lawsuits so that his club can stay open instead of insulting his customers.
MATT FEY FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Shawn Trimble / KANSAN
Universities churning out the culturally bankrupt
Early this semester, one of my instructors told my class that we had tremendous gaps in our cultural knowledge, that the education system had failed to teach us the very basics of what everyone needs to know.
At first, I wasn't apt to believe that. I thought, I am fairly well read, I've been in school for a while, so surely I must have cultural knowledge.
He was right. I stand corrected. My cultural knowledge is admittedly sparse, in part because the current university system values practical education over intellectual enlightenment.
We are forced to channel our energies into one major, and little time is left to enhance our cultural knowledge. When we major in architecture, how much time do we spend brushing up on American history or reading English literature?
Economic factors and the job market have forced us to specialize early in our college careers.
First, college is expensive. People struggle to get here and when they do, they are forced to move quickly toward graduation, focusing totally on their major.
Little time is left to digest what they learn, and even less time is left
to expand their cultural knowledge or enrich their lives through the study of music or art history.
cated person, but they only will hire a degree one.
The fact that the educational system is turning out culturally bankrupt young people is not solely the fault of universities, corporations and economics.
Society as a whole no longer values culture. Previously, a person went to college to become educated, cultured. Society expected it of them. They were schooled in the classics; they read philosophy. Time was spent and attention was paid to language, art and poetry.
STAFF COLUMNIST
But this is no longer the case with politicians currently moving toward
cutting funds for the National Endowment for the Arts.
The future now looks more bleak than ever. Republicans are hoping to pass the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill. They want to cut $11 billion in federal student loans. Evidently nothing is sacred when it comes to saving money, not even education.
Sadly, many students know exactly what I'm talking about. Professors are heart-broken about the death of intellectualism.
However, a solution is not simple and no one is taking the first steps toward reversing this educational trend.
Second, the job market is fierce. More people are attending college, and employment competition is at a premium. Companies no longer value an edu-
The best our educators can do is encourage us to read in our "free" time. They can encourage us to take responsibility for our own cultural education by attending gallery exhibits and lecture series, but without the guidance of a professor, the structure of an educational system behind us, we only continue to sit idly by, plugging away toward graduation.
Nicole Kennedy is an Overland Park
Junior in journalism.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Kansan cartoon neglects the facts
I am writing concerning the cartoon depicting the recent happenings at the Delta Chi fraternity. Much of the information expressed in the illustration is based on hearsay and neglects the facts. Perhaps the artist was influenced by the mysterious "close source" who provided testimony in a hazing article printed earlier regarding Delta Chi and the Greek system at large. By using this unnamed source, the Kansan not only violated a policy stressed in the William Allen White Journalism School at KU but reduced its credibility to that of a grocery store tabloid. The Delta Chi fraternity realized that it lacked clear judgment concerning two associate members. They have been reprimanded by their National Board as well as the University. It is unfortunate
Perhaps someone on the staff could exaggerate those characteristics rather than sensationalize an isolated incident. In the future, I would hope that the Kansan relies on responsible journalism before it sets out to slander a valuable campus organization. It is the responsibility of the University, not the Kansan, to pass judgment on the Delta Chi fraternity based on facts.
that the Kansan took this incident and exaggerated the truth of the matter. The numerous positive aspects that define the Greek community virtually go unnoticed in the Kansan, such as philanthropies, community service, Rock Chalk, and leadership within organizations such as Student Senate.
Matthew J. Leonard
Prairie Village senior
Justin Willet
Leavock senior
Heather, how many fraternity chapter meetings have you been to? How many fraternity rituals have you attended? How many fraternity initiations have you seen? Until you've seen at least one of these, my "viewpoint" is that you try to be a little less opinionated, much less judgmental and a little more rational.
And Robert, I find it disgusting that you find amusement in another's pain. The "character" you depicted in your tasteless cartoon is a friend, and what he needs is support, not mockery. The image you drew and the Kansan's willingness to print it show how little class some people have these days.
This letter is in response to the viewpoint written by Heather Lawrenz and Robert Tapley's adjacent cartoon, both printed on Sept. 12 in the Kansan.
Delta Chi editorials reveal insensitivity
STEPHIANE T LTLEY
Business manager
MATT SHAW
Retail sales manager
JAY STEINER
Sales and marketing adviser
CATHERINE ELLSWORTH
Technology coordinator
Bryan Reuss Lawrence senior
Calhoun mgr ... Meredith Hunting
Regional mgr ... Tony Ducey
National mgr ... Heather Barnes
Special Sections mgr ... Heather Niaheus
Production mgr ... Nancy Euston
Marketing director ... Karye Nye
Marketing director ... Karye Nye
Public Relations director ... Both Chella
Creative director ... Bring Bloomquist
Classified mgr ... Heather Valter
Internship/co-op mgr ... Kelly Connelys
Business Staff
New version of Bible is held hostage by fear of offense
Did you know that God is sexist? Well, neither did I until I read about the Oxford University Press' new "inclusive language version" of the New Testament.
The old version didn't pass the test for politically correct people. With references to God as "Father"
STAFF COLUMNIST
KANSAN STAFF
COLLEEN MCCAIN
Editor
DAVID WILSON
Managing editor, news
ASHLEY MILLER
Managing editor, planning & design
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
In the Oxford
Of course, some words deserve the silent treatment, but we need to stop and think before we go as far as correcting God. Because, frankly, this rampage of political correctness is getting out of hand. The fear of offense has caused us to slaughter, rape and exile any word that possibly breathes a breath of confusion. People cannot open their mouths without offending at least one race, gender or religion.
and Jesus as "Son," the old version of the New Testament has had a face-lift and a tummy-tuck. All pronouns referring to males have been eliminated and replaced with words like "parent," "child," "father-mother" and "human-one."
This nit-picking, politically correct whine-athon has got to stop. Life, which has never been simple, has climbed one more notch on the confusion scale. Imagine the initiators of this politically correct bashathon: sitting around, sipping lemon-water, bickering with Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and God about their political incorrectness.
In the Oxford University Press' New Testament, the Lord's Prayer begins: "Father Mother, hollowed be your name, May your dominion come." (Luke 11:2).
Pool is a prejudiced sport,
because ultimately it is the "white"
ball that knocks the "black" ball
into the pocket for victory.
People no longer fall into manholes; they are personholes. And these personholes are of course covered by personhole covers. Enough! This makes a person's head spin. We are climbing down the stairs of offense, only to trip up the stairs of annoyance.
We no longer use Mrs. or Miss; it is Ms. because for some reason it is offensive to be depicted as "married."
For the sake of political correctness, we now are correcting God. Now really, is this necessary?
Amy McVey is an Oathe Junior in Journalism.
We have become political prisoners. In some eyes, people have done devastating things by making drinking fountains right-handed citizen biased. Our national tests, like the SAT or ACT, aren't fair because they are written in proper English. Therefore, they are culturally biased.
Sorry, I'll have to miss that party.
How to submit letters
Letters: Should be double-spaced, typed and fewer than 200 words. Letters must include the authors signature, name, address and telephone number, plus class and hometown if a University student. Faculty or staff should identify their positions.
Editore
All letters should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Staufer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the absolute right edit, out to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Heather Lawrenz, editorial page editor, or Sarah Morrison, associate editorial editor, at 864-4810.
News & Special Sections...Doeira Allison
Editorial...Heather Lawrens
Associate Editorial...Barch Morrison
Campus...Virginia Mergheim
Campus...Ramona Mergheim
Associate Campus...Paul Todd
Sports...Jennil Carlson
Associate Sports...Tom Erickson
Photo...Paul Kotz
On-line coordinator...The Pasett
HUBIE
By Greg Hardin
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