4A
Wednesday, September 6, 1995
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VIEWPOINT
THE ISSUE: FINANCIAL AID
Monitoring system a bad idea
The Office of Student Financial Aid has begun monitoring students who skip out on classes, placing students' aid in jeopardy if they decide not to attend classes.
The small group of students who misuse loans and grants have prompted the office to send financial aid forms to professors and instructors, who are to report students not attending classes. The students also will be sent a notification letter. If they don't respond, they will be dropped from the University immediately. In the old system, students weren't caught until the end of the semester.
Part of the college experience is being able to make decisions without Mom or Dad. One of the decisions left to students is whether to attend class. The Office of Student Financial Aid has taken that decision away from students and is playing Mom and Dad.
The new system also
Students who receive financial aid should not be monitored by the University because they decide to skip classes
leaves too much room for human error. Neither the office nor the professors are immune to mistakes. In the end, many innocent students who properly use financial aid could be hurt. A fiasco similar to the one that occurred last winter break, in which 325 students were incorrectly dismissed by a computer error, shouldn't be repeated.
The current system works fine. Students will have to pay back their aid whether or not they attend classes. Those who receive financial aid are mature enough to be responsible. That's why it's called a loan, and those of us who receive financial aid have the responsibility to use it correctly.
Why fix something that isn't broken?
NATHAN J. TORTSONI FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD.
THE ISSUE: KU LECTURE SERIES
Lecture series needed at KU
The students, faculty and alumni of the University of Kansas have been disappointed again by the complacency and inadequacy of some University officials. The proposed, and greatly needed Eisenhower lecture series has been victimized by the same inefficiency and dereliction that has postponed distributed enrollment indefinitely and befallen other University endeavors.
The proposed Eisenhower lecture series recently was deemed not feasible by University officials. One official was quoted as saying, "We would probably have to do it all with donations from corporations and community supporters." Donations and corporate sponsors happen to be the exact recipe for the tremendously successful fund-raising efforts of the Williams Fund, which also could work with the lecture series. This kind of naysaying is typical of the University and leaves students, faculty and alumni
Corporate funding and community support is necessary to turn the proposed lecture series into a reputable reality
disappointed, time and again.
The most appalling aspect of the whole announcement is that money is available, and the University still uses the lack of funds as its primary excuse. Several lecture funds exist at the University, and the major contributors are upset that their money is not being used. The University has hundreds of alumni and friends who would be willing to donate time, money and resources to attract major international speakers to the lecture series. The benefits of such a series would be limitless for students and faculty, and the international recognition of such a series would not hurt the University either.
The University should make the Eisenhower lecture series a priority.
CHRIS VINE FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Jeff MacNelly/ CHICAGO TRIBUNE
The Citadel is no match for inner-city schools
Despite his anger, Michael Boyce assured the young lady who answered my phone that he is a complete gentleman. And it is true that he did not use any improper language that might have offended her.
However, he did make a surprising proposal that was not gentlemanly.
"You tell Royko that he is a wimp, he said, "and that I will fight him out in the street."
Boyce explained that he was furious because of something I wrote about the way Shannon Faulkner was treated at the Citadel military college.
"I live in Richmond, Virginia," he said, "and I am a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute.
"Yes, the first year at those schools is hard. But it makes you strong. That is why these schools produce such outstanding leaders.
"You tell Royko that he could not take the rigors of military school if he tried. He is a winp. Yes, a wimp.
"The Citadel and VMI have produced more leaders in business and government than any other schools.
"I can't believe that he would write unfavorably about the Citadel and that woman who couldn't take the training.
"I am a gentleman. I am not some kind of radical. But I am Irish and will fight him in the street. You tell him that. The wimp."
If Mr. Boyce says he is a gentleman, I'll take his word for it. But I'm surprised by his challenge that I fight him on "the street."
COLUMNIST
A gentleman might fight if circumstances require it. But a true gentleman does not brawl in the streets.
Maybe he doesn't care about his gentlemanly reputation, but I'm not going to sully mine.
However, in his spirit,
However, in his spirited defense of military school
training, he raises some interesting points about the rigors that the young cadets experience during their first year. To that I say, "Ha." Yes, and "ha-ho." or "ho-ho."
As someone who attended a public high school on the West Side of Chicago, I'm tired of hearing about how tough military school training is
For his information, Chicago schools have produced just as many leaders as VMI and the Citadel.
In my high school class, we had Big Russell, who became the leader of one of the most successful cartage theft gangs in the Midwest.
Mr. Boyce talks about all the leaders that military schools produce.
And there was Angie Boscarino, who rose to prominence as the leader of a street crew in the Potatoes Daddano gang. And he would have achieved even greater success had not some business rivals with
ice picks mistaken him for a block of ice.
Mr. Boyce seems to think that there is something heroic about a cadet plebe standing at rigid attention with his chin tucked in and his eyes glazed while some upperclassman howls insults into his face.
I would be far more impressed by the heroes of an upperclassman from the Citadel or VMI if he walked into one of Chicago's public high schools and shouted abuse into a student's face. Then I would be impressed by the efficiency of the paramedics who rushed his remains to the emergency room. And by the undertaker who made him suitable for public display.
I also wonder about those Citadel cadets who wept tears of joy and hugged each other when they learned that a female student would no longer be in their midst. It was not the most many display ever seen on network TV.
As my friend Slats put it: "What would those sensitive guys do if a good-looking babe gave 'em a wink - wet their nips?"
An interesting question. But of course, they are being trained as commissioned officers. If they were potential enlisted men, they would have been more open-minded and asked the young lady to share their foxholes.
Miko Royko is a syndicated columnist with the Chicago Tribune.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Photograph of drag queens in poor taste
I am writing in regard to the front page picture and article, "Drag queens steal the show," published Wednesday, Aug. 30.
I am a new transfer student at this University and have enjoyed reading the Kansan over the past couple of weeks. However, I was shocked to see the picture of two men dressed as women as part of a movie promotion and an article promoting drag queens on the front page of the newspaper that my student fees support.
While drag queens have a legal right to demonstrate their cause, just as I do by writing this letter, I hope that we can each accept, respect and appreciate ourselves as the person God created and steer away from advocating a lifestyle of sin.
I would like to state for the record that I do not condemn individuals who choose to lead this type of alternative lifestyle, nor do I necessarily condemn the lifestyle. But I do, in every way, shape and form, object to the promotion of it.
Tim Kukula
Minneola junior
Chain gangs needed to punish criminals
Luby Montano-Laurel's editorial concerning chain gangs is off target. Prisons are for the incarceration and punishment of convicted
criminals. Chaining a prisoner and requiring him to perform manual labor is not analogous to treating felons as slaves or animals. The facts aren't in front of me, but I bet studies of rehabilitation versus recidivism would show that rehabilitation does not work.
The way to keep criminals from repeating their crimes is to promise swift and sure punishment once convicted. Chain gangs are a tool that will help the state in reinforcing what prisons are; very unpleasant places one would not be in except for proscribed behavior. Incidentally, my dog is not chained.
Glen E. Sharp II Lawrence second-year law student
GTAs' salary complaint is bolstered by precedent
The Kansan's article about the recent complaint filed by KU graduate teaching assistants against the chancellor and the Board of Regents provided a good and accurate summary of the issues. Because this is a serious matter, I want to explain the GTAs' reasons for filing the complaint.
Chancellor Robert Hemenway stated that "The University understood the Legislature to take a position which ruled out raises for GTAs."
GUEST COLUMNIST
The Legislature, as a whole, took no position on the issue, as the amendment was not voted on in the Senate. Rep. Tim Shallenburger, Speaker of the Kansas House, stated in the
Lawrence Journal-World that although the House had voted not to allocate funds specifically for GTA merit increases, the Regents, or KU administration "have the authority to do that, if they want to, now." Representatives Troy Findley, Rocky Nichols and Tom Sawyer, among others, have concurred with Shallenburger — the House did not "rule out" merit increases for GTAs.
KU administrators can raise GTA salaries, and, in practice, they have done so under similar circumstances in the past.
Former Gov. Joan Finney's 1993 budget proposal allocated money, for KU faculty salary increases; but, like the amended budget, passed recently in the House, did not specifically allocate funds for GTA raises.
Neither document specifically excluded GTAs from receiving such funding. In 1993, administrator Howard Mossberg tod the University Daily Kansan that "GTAs will receive an increase equal to the faculty raise next year, despite the fact that the budget proposals did not mention them."
Ed Meyen, executive vice chancellor, added, "An explicit statement about GTAs is not necessary for them to receive an increase." In fact, according to Meyen, "Salary increases for GTAs are usually tied in with faculty raises." Treating GTA increases separately from faculty raises for the 1996 fiscal year is a radical reversal of previous policy. This policy reversal seems like retaliation against GTAs for organizing.
The close House vote on the amendment, combined with the strong support GTAs received during the House debate from representatives such as Nichols, Barbara Ballard and Sheila Hochhauser, indicate an encouraging core of support. GTAs believe that the University is using the House vote simply as an excuse to avoid bargaining in good faith.
GTAs have both vocal supporters and detractors in the Legislature, with the majority of legislators falling in between. Using the House vote as a benchmark indicates that changing the minds of as few as five legislators would change the balance of opinion. GTAs hope that during the next session of the Legislature, KU administrators will choose to work with us to change those five minds.
Mike Johnson is a graduate teaching assistant in the English department.
KANSAN STAFF
COLLEEN MCCAIN
Editor
DAVID WILSON
Managing editor, news
ASHLEY MILLER
Managing editor, planning & design
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
Editors
News & Special Sections ...Dreaed Allison
New era ...Heather Lawrenc
Associate Editorial ...Sarah Morrison
Campus ...Virginia Macleay
Campus ...Tewan Meyers
Associate Campus ...Paul Dudley
Sports ...Jenni Carlson
Associate Sports ...Tom Renton
Wife ...David Kotz
Wife ...Robert Allen
By Greg Hardin
STEPHANIE UTLEY
Business manager
MATT SHAW
Retail sales manager
JAY STEINER
Sales and marketing adviser
CATHERINE ELLSWORTH
Technology coordinator
Business Staff
Campus mgr ... Meredith Heming
Regional mgr ... Tom Dulose
National mgr ... Heather Barnes
Special Sectiona mgr ... Heather Nidhua
Product Marketing manager ... Khatne Kya
Marketing director ... Konan Hauser
Public Relations director ... Beth Calthi
Claselied mgr ... Gladstone
Classified mgr ... Heather Valier
HUBIE
REALISTIC? REALISTIC?
REALISM IS TOO DE-
PRESSING! REALISM IS
KNOWING YOU WILL
OWE $12,000 WHEN YOU
GRADUATE!!
REALISM IS KNOWING BALDNESS RUNS IN YOUR FAMILY! REALISM IS KNOWING THAT YOU WILL NEVER DATE JENNY McCARTHY!!