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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2006 WWW.KANSAN.COM
ERICKSON: On the agenda for the Lawrence City Commission last week? Deciding whether to decide the fate of the war in Iraq. What's next, abortion? See kansan.com for more opinions and Free for All comments
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
PAGE 7A
OUR VIEW
Automatic license suspensions for underage drinkers not a fair law
The Kansas Legislature should rework its stringent law on license suspension for underage possession of alcohol.
Students less than 21 years of age who are convicted of consuming, possessing or purchasing (or attempting to purchase) alcohol face a 30-day license suspension, according to a five-year-old state law. The second offense carries a 90-day suspension and the third a one-year suspension. The city must comply with the law because city code cannot be less restrictive than state law.
Kansas is one of 29 states that have enacted a version of the use/lose" law as of January 1, 2006, according to the Alcohol Policy Information System Web site. The laws began to emerge in the mid-1980s.
The state should suspend or revoke licenses of drunk drivers, who are more likely to kill or main others. But the use/lose law unfairly punishes those who avoid drinking and driving.
The penalty is already harsh enough. Underage drinkers pay a minimum fine of $300 and a maximum fine of $500 if convicted.
The law has failed to reduce minor in possession offenses. The number of offenses has neither increased nor decreased in Douglas County from 2002 to 2004, according to Kansas Bureau of Investigation statistics.
The law has failed to significantly reduce underage drinking in Kansas. Studies fall short of
Caught
The number of Douglas County offenses of minor in possession in the last four years:
**2005:** 288
**2004:** 195
**2003:** 209
**2002:** 296
Source: Kansas Bureau of Investigation
showing a casual relationship. But they do indicate that alcohol use among 12-to-17-year-old Kansans has not decreased significantly from 2002-2004, according to the government's National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Alcohol use among 18-to-25-year-old Kansans has increased from 2002-2004. Kansas has consistently ranked in the top 20 states for alcohol use in both age groups.
The public loses if young Kansans cannot work because of license suspensions. Productivity and tax revenue could decrease if those convicted rely on a vehicle for transportation.
If the state must suspend underage drinkers' licenses, it should suspend those of drinkers under the age of 18, as 12 other states do.
The Kansas Legislature should treat college students as adults and nix license suspensions for underage drinkers.
FREE FOR ALL
Call 864-0500
Steve Lynn for the editorial board
are recorded.
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansas editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
This is for all the boys in Oliver Hall: You suck and I hate you.
Is it me, or do campus bus drivers purposeally for pedestrians?
--get a job.A real job.
Why does Dr. Holmes always wear the same outfit?
I remember when Fatso's used to be Mulligan's and before that the best bar in Lawrence — The Benchwarmer, Oh God, I need to
Luke Axtel: I found your wallet. I turned it into The Hawk Shop in
I ride my bike. I do what I want.
the Uni
To the GDIs who wrote "Rethink how you drink." Stop going to The
Well, today was the best Western Civ class I've ever had. A lady with
Hash is full of free love and STDs.
COMMENTARY
a pirate map came in.
Ranch.
Whether you're gellin' or zippin', airport security is confusin'
Ah, the wonders of a Ziploc bag. Have some grapes you don't want to shrivel or licorice you don't want to reach a form that's impossible to chew? That's a job for a Ziploc. Want to bring some Cheerios to munch on in class? That also calls for a Ziploc. Need something to hold all your pencils? Ziploc. Can't get on an airplane? Well, grab a Ziploc and you're as good as sitting in your window seat, eating your personal pouch of peanuts. Yes, the newest addition to the uses of plastic zip-top bags involves airport security.
The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement on Aug. 10 stating that it had "raised the nation's threat level to Severe, or Red, for commercial flights originating in the United Kingdom bound for the United States." The threat level for all commercial flights in or bound for the U.S. was raised to "High, or Orange," at the same time. These actions were in response to the arrests of several people in the U.K. who were allegedly planning to bomb passenger airplanes bound for the U.S. At the time the statement was issued, all liquids, gels and lotions were banned from being carried on airplanes.
BY KAITLYN SYRING
KANSAN COLUMNIST
OPINION@KANSAN.COM
Then, on Sept. 26, the Transportation Security Administration adjusted restrictions to allow passengers to carry certain liquids, gels and aerosols through security. Now, to pass inspection and take your liquids of choice onto the plane, you must store them in one of those wonderful bags previously mentioned. According to the TSA Web site, one can bring "travel-size toiletries that fit comfortably in one quart-sized, clear plastic zip-top bag." However, the toiletries must be three ounces or less. Any item that
is more than three ounces is prohibited. If you don't have a plastic bag, you must check the items with your other baggage or throw them away.
Passengers are also required to remove their shoes during inspection to be X-rayed. Gel shoe heels are allowed, but gel inserts are not permitted under any circumstances. Are you gellin? Well, that's great, but you and Dr. Scholl can't get on an airplane. Not even a Diploc can save you. However, you can bring your gel-filled bra. In fact, you can wear that right on through security. You don't even have to take it off. What a relief.
ago. I wondered about it as this sweet woman I was referring to as "Granny" took off her shoes and stood with her arms spread while a few shady characters, whom I wouldn't even feel comfortable standing next to on a department store escalator, passed by and chuckled. I wonder how much security a Ziploc offers and how much violence is prevented by allowing Mr. Aching Fee to have his gel heels but not his gel inserts. I take an all or nothing stance on this. Either I can bring all the toiletries in my carry bag, or I can put all of them in my other baggage to be checked. I'd rather be told to keep it all or leave it all, rather than to keep this and leave that, put this in a clear bag and never bring that.
The terrorist attacks five years ago warranted a number of increased security strategies at airports, most of which I understand and support. I want to keep our airports safe as much as anyone. Sometimes, though, I wonder about it. I wondered about it when I watched my grandma get pulled aside for a random check at each airport during our trip to Port Aransas, Texas, three years
I'm sure the government knows how to protect its people better than I do, but I think selling plastic bags at airports might have just become the hottest industry to tap in to.
Syring is a Salina junior in journalism
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Homecoming matters
By saying that students don't care about homecoming week ("Homecoming week no longer matters to students" Thursday), the Kansan staff shows it clearly did not do its research on the topic.
The week is designed for all students, not just the greek community. Students on the Homecoming Steering Committee are active in other student groups, like the Black Student Union, Student Senate and student housing. Only five of the 13 members are greek.
The committee has been planning events for the last nine months, improving past events to include more students. One change in this year's homecoming is the awarding of points. Greek Life and Student Life categories encourage more involvement. Even the location of the pep rally was moved to encourage student attendance.
ROTC members ran in the Spirit Sprint, scholarship hall residents won games in the 3-on-3 basketball tournament, and the Asian American Student Union plans to a decorate a vehicle for the parade.
Homecoming has been a KU tradition since 1912 and the committee has worked hard to provide opportunities for fans to show their spirit. Next time you criticize a tradition because you are tired, think of all those Jayhawks still waving the wheat at athletic events.
Jennifer Denny
Plano, Texas, Junior
Homecoming 2006 co-director
COMMENTARY
If Lawrence won't offer President Bush its opinion on the war in Iraq, who will?
The great City of Lawrence let us down last week.
Our city commission shot down an attempt to allow Lawrence citizens to vote in November on whether to immediately withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq, according to the Lawrence Journal-World.
It was a sad day, especially in light of this recent statement from President Bush. "If only a moderated-sized, liberal, Midwestern college town would tell me to remove our troops from Iraq, I'd probably do it."
City commissioner Boog Highberger offered some weak excuses for refusing to take action.
I'm ashamed of the city commission for refusing to answer this call.
BY MATT ERICKSON
KANSAN COLUMNIST
OPINION@KANSAN.COM
TALK TO US
Exercises for learning to take care.
"I'm afraid it would be awfully
divisive for the community," Highberger said in the Journal World article.
The problem with the Iraq issue is that everybody's way too informed about the conflict and its foreign policy implications. People need to stop reading up about the conflict and just form a knee-jerk opinion about it, already.
Nonsense. Who's divided about the Iraq war?
Joanathan Kullman, editor
845-854 or jeaining@kansan.com
Erick R. Schultz, managing editor
845-854 or exchmidt@kansan.com
Look around the country:
Dozens of communities in Wisconsin and Vermont have passed referendums calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, according to the Journal-World.
Even the city of San Francisco passed a similar referendum.
Gabriela Seen, managing editor
864-854 or gobizcan.kansan.com
Frank Tentardt opinion editor
864-854 or gobizcan.kansan.com
We must understand that the Iraq war is not a complicated issue at all. It's basically a yes-or-no question, and Lawrence needs to pick an answer now.
The San Francisco vote was perhaps the most eventful. It shook the country's political foundation with the stunning news that San Francisco is home to lots of anti-war activists. Who knew?
We'll find our loudest, boldest and meanest citizens to argue with each other once a week and craft provocative opinion statements on different national issues. TV ratings for the weekly meetings would soar.
Or Lawrence and its government could stick to what actually goes on in Lawrence. But where's the excitement in that?
Lawrence must follow suit — and
Dave Rulg, associate opinion editor 864-4924 or drulg@kansan.com
Let the people vote on every issue, no matter how ill-informed they might be. And let Lawrence lead the charge.
Kyle Hoedl, business manager
864-4014 or khoedl@kansan.com
Lindsey Shirach, sales manager
864-4462 or lishirak@kansan.com
The problem is that Lawrence is spending too much time worrying about its own problems — silly, petty things like hiring a new city manager, improving traffic safety and issuing funds for city projects. It's time we started spouting our opinions on the things that really matter.
Erickson is an Olathe sophomore in journalism and political science.
The entire nation will hold its breath each week in anticipation of what the city of Lawrence will say next.
In order for Lawrence to find its place in today's tenuous political landscape, I propose a change.
go even further. Why don't we officially inform the world of our black-or-white opinions on every national political issue? Stem cell research, immigration and scores of other issues are badly in need of some passionate yet misinformed rhetoric.
Malcolm Gibson, general manager, news adviser
964-7667 or malcolmgibson.com
Our Founding Fathers established a representative democracy,
It's time to abolish the city commission and, in its place, institute a Board of Talking Heads. I don't mean Talking Heads as in the 1980s rock band; I mean talking heads as in Bill O'Reilly, Keith Olbermann and other squabbling commentators on television.
Jennifer Weaver, sales and marketing adviser
864-7666 or jweaver@kansan.com
The Kansan welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumn. The Kansen reserves the right to edit, cut to length, or reject all submissions.
For any questions, call Frank Tankard or Dave Ruge at 864-4810 or e-mail opinion@kansan.com.
General questions should be directed to the editor at editor@kansan.com.
SUBMISSIONS
thinking that elected leaders could be more informed about important issues than the public. Our Founding Fathers obviously did not know how to attract a viewing audience.
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EDITORIAL BOARD
Jonathan Realing, Erik R. Schmidt, Gabriela Souza, Frank Tankard, Dave Ruigh, Steve Lynn, McKay Stangler and Louis Mora
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