The University Daily Kansan emphasizes the First Amendment.
the First Amendment: religion, speech assemble
press;
petition
GENTRY: Raising admissions standards would improve the University's ranking and weed out students who are not prepared for difficult college classes. See kansan.com for more opinions and Free for All comments
TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2006
WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PAGE 6A
OPINION
OUR VIEW
NCAA recruiting bylaw goes too far
Dear prospect,
Please play for the Jayhawks.
If a prospective player's name had been mentioned above, the NCAA's bylaw 13 on recruiting would have been broken and the KU Athletics Department would have asked The University Daily Kansan to cease encouraging prospects to attend the University.
The tyrannical bylaw provides an overly broad definition of "athletic representative." A student who purchases a ticket to a football game certainly lacks the power a traditional booster might have in influencing a prospect's decision. The NCAA should allow students to express themselves to recruits.
The bylaw states that "athletic representatives," who may include students, must refrain from attempting to persuade a recruit to attend their university. From social networking Web sites — such as Facebook and Myspace — to discussion forums, the Internet makes it possible for everyone to violate bylaw 13.
We understand the concern: Students might offer a recruit a unique benefit, such as a job, in exchange for the recruit's promise to enroll. The recruit could then lose eligibility. But why prevent a student from simply telling a recruit why the University would be a great place to play ball?
Further, athletics departments
cannot adequately enforce the bylaw. Administrators charged with the task of monitoring comments on social networking sites might find them difficult to navigate without the NCAA's help.
"The NCAA doesn't tell us what to monitor or how to monitor." Theresa Becker, associate athletics director for compliance, said Thursday. "We create our own forms. We create our own policies ... the NCAA doesn't come in and tell us how to run our shop."
That difficulty hasn't stopped some athletics departments from being justifiably vigilant. On July 28, the University of Kentucky Athletics Association announced that it had reported recruiting violations to the NCAA after several boosters posted on the Myspace profiles of UK prospects encouraging them to attend the university.
Other athletics departments have gone too far. Kent State University and Loyola University prohibit student-athletes from having social networking profiles, according to the NCAA's Web site. The KU Athletics Department allows student-athletes to have profiles, but advises them to be cautious.
The definition of "athletic representative" should be reevaluated before a player loses eligibility on some frivolous technicality.
Steve Lynn for the editorial board
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
farms treat sentient animals as meat-producing machines. Your plate can reflect a concern for humane treatment of animals at your very next meal. Give it a try!
Eating veggies is a principled choice
I was pleased to read jack Carter's lajvay applure "Give Veggies A Try".
PLUTO - GONE FROM THE CHARTS, BUT NOT FROM OUR HEARTS
Innumerable tasty and nutritious options exist for those who wish to boycott the extreme cruelty of today's hyper-industrialized factory farms, which provide the nation with most of its animal products. These
Jason Ketola
Minneapolis, Minn.
Grant Snider/KANSAN
Kansas reps fail gay community
COMMENTARY
Ad astra per aspera. The state motto of Kansas, Latin for "to the stars through difficulties," encompasses the struggle of gay Kansans attempting to win the rights that have been denied to them through recent legislation. While politicians take progressive action in many other areas of the public domain, socially, the Sunflower State follows this formula: Kansas + religiously fundamental conservatism = 1950s idealism, aka suburban WASPs with 2.5 kids and a Collie.
After the defeat of the Federal Marriage Amendment in Congress earlier this summer, I became aware,
Two points have caused a rift between myself and the politicians representing us here at home and in Washington. First, I wonder how many of these so-called conservatives truly consider themselves to be just that — conservative. An issue many fundamental conservatives (now let's not mix them up with members of the Religious Right) advocate is minimal government intervention in the lives of all citizens. Obviously, voting in favor of legislation that intervenes in my life, and the lives of other gay people, is inherently non-conservative.
Secondly, how do these politicians claim to be progressive? Their voting records on gay issues appear to be both anti-progress and discriminatory.
BY CHRIS HORN
KANSAN COLUMNIST
OPINION@KANSAN.COM
via the Human Rights Campaign, that Lawrence's representative voted in favor of the measure. In an e-mail exchange with Representative Jim Ryun (R-Kan.), the congressman affirmed his position on homosexuality in America. The KU alumnus believes every citizen should have equal protection under the law and also condemns prejudicial treatment of homosexuals. In contrast, Ryun, like many Republicans, feels that gay marriage goes beyond basic rights. "I do not believe that we should provide a class of citizens with special or extra rights," he wrote. So, if we were to put Rep. Ryun into a time machine and send him back to 1960, do you think he would support or oppose of the integration of black Americans into society?
Ryun went even further when he insinuated that homosexuals aren't capable of being in a monogamous and legally-recognized relationship. "I do not believe that we should broaden the traditional definition of marriage on the basis of such a recent political trend without examining the long-term psychological, physical and emotional effects of the homosexual lifestyle" he wrote. I will agree, there are serious problems within some parts of the gay community, but those who wish to obtain a legal union typically don't fall into those categories, nor do they approve of destructive lifelines.
Another Kansas politician and self-described "defender of marriage" spoke out after the FMA was soundly defeated. Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), in a June Washington Post article, used the word "progress" in a rather contradictory way: "We're making progress, and we're not going to stop until marriage between a man and a woman is protected . . . protected in the courts, protected in the Constitution, but most of all, protected for the people and for the future of our children in this society." Well, I think it's safe to say that Sen. Brownback's position further demonstrates the hurdles that must be cleared if homosexuals are to obtain equal rights.
It is necessary for true conservatives to stand up and strongly oppose this ludicrous attempt by religious fundamentalists to create a theocracy in Kansas.
Horn is a Lenexa junior in journalism and European studies.
So you can get Chlamydia in your eye? Man, I have got to stop getting those facials.
of Student Senate for not showing up. You have lost all credibility on this campus, so shut your mouth. You are also not a very funny person. Signed, everyone. Rock chalk Jayhawk.
FREE FOR ALL
Salt Lake City girls are gorgeous.
Mike Berry, you got kicked off
For the person who is arguing with me, I'm sorry, I don't have time on my hands to walk down Kentucky with a compass. Who does that? And why would I walk with traffic? Obviously you suck at life.
jonathan Keating, editor
864-4854 or jakeandbansan.com
Erick S. Schmidt, managing editor
864-4854 or eschmidt@kansan.com
Gabrielle Bouza, managing editor
864-4854 or gaouza@kansan.com
Frank Tankard opinion editor
864-4854 or frankandkansan.com
--jonathan Keating, editor
864-4854 or jakeandbansan.com
Erick S. Schmidt, managing editor
864-4854 or eschmidt@kansan.com
Gabrielle Bouza, managing editor
864-4854 or gaouza@kansan.com
Frank Tankard opinion editor
864-4854 or frankandkansan.com
steve
I just went to grab your paper and hit my head on the shelf. Thanks.
--jonathan Keating, editor
864-4854 or jakeandbansan.com
Erick S. Schmidt, managing editor
864-4854 or eschmidt@kansan.com
Gabrielle Bouza, managing editor
864-4854 or gaouza@kansan.com
Frank Tankard opinion editor
864-4854 or frankandkansan.com
I just heard that Adam wants to make out with Steve.
The halls are abuzz; everyone is talking and everyone is saying Adam wants to make out with
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Standardous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded
I'm so glad Plan B pills are finally sold over the counter. Now after I have sex I can finally stop dressing up as a woman to get them prescribed.
Call 864-0500
To the Sig Ep guy I danced with on Friday, what is your name?
jonathan Keating, editor
864-4854 or jakeandbansan.com
Erick S. Schmidt, managing editor
864-4854 or eschmidt@kansan.com
Gabrielle Bouza, managing editor
864-4854 or gaouza@kansan.com
Frank Tankard opinion editor
864-4854 or frankandkansan.com
University should raise standards
COMMENTARY
Being the "safety school" that anyone can get into isn't getting the University anywhere. The admissions standards need to be changed to be more selective, for the sake of the rankings and the sake of the incoming students. No, I don't know what the new requirements should be. I just know that letting in C students isn't cutting it for me or for the ranking committees.
When I e-mailed new provost Richard Lariviere about his opinion on raising the requirements, he wrote that he is "not arguing to 'raise' admission standards, but to change them from the current statutory model for all schools in Kansas to a more holistic evaluation of each applicant." Well, that is a nice idea, isn't it? The University may require a personal essay or an interview for applicants. It sounds like a great idea on paper, but the reason applicants are judged by the current system is because it's quick. The University has approximately 27,000 students, and those are just people that got accepted. Imagine the time and money that would be wasted to more "wholly" evaluate each student.
BY CASSIE GENTRY
KANSAN COLUMNIST
OPINIONKANSAN.COM
No one wants to be "that guy" (or girl). You know, the one who comes to college, gug ho about majoring in pre-med or business, but has to leave in shame after one semester because they couldn't cut it. Often, these students simply aren't smart enough or lack focus.
Stronger admissions standards would save these students not only the embarrassment of failure, but time and money as well. Requirements are a measure to determine if a student will succeed in college. The current requirements aren't exactly stringent. A 2.0? A "C" average? Let's be honest, that's no great achievement. College courses are much more difficult than high school courses. How can the University expect a someone who was a "C" student in high school to pull a 2.0 or higher at the college level?
Some KU administrators are clamoring to raise admissions standards to improve the University's national ranking. Currently, we stand at 37th among the nation's public universities. Raising the admissions standards would no doubt also lower the dropout rate and raise the average GPA. People have said that these rankings don't matter, and I agree they don't to some incoming students. However, to someone from 1,000 miles away who can't afford to travel around and pick a school based on appearance, numbers matter a lot. Why go to the 37th-ranked school when you could go to the 35th or 27th? Raising the admissions standards would be a great way to climb up the rankings.
Gentry is a Kansas City, Kan. sophomore in English and premedicine
》TALK TO US
Dave Rulgh, associate opinion editor
864-4924 or drulgh@kansan.com
Kyle Hoedt, business manager
884-4014 or khoedt@kanan.com
Lindsey Shirak, sales manager
864-4482 or lishirak@kansan.com
>> SUBMISSIONS
Macleen Gibbon, general manager, news adyler
m8-7687 or m8libbon kzncom.net
Jennifer Weaver, sales and marketing adviser
864-7686 or jweover@kansan.com
The Kanaan welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumni.
The Kanaan reserves the right to edit, cut to length, or reject all submissions.
For any questions, call Frank Tinkard or Dave Rugh at 634-4810 or e-mail opinion@kanaan.com.
General questions should be directed to the editor at editor@kanan.com
LETTER GUIDELINES
GUEST COLUMN GUIDELINES
Maximum Length: 500 word limit
Include: Author's name; class, home-
town (student); position (faculty mem-
ember/staff); phone number (will not be
published)
Maximum Length: 200 word limit
Include: Author's name and telephone number; class, home/stown (student); position (faculty member/statist); phone number (will not be published)
Also: Tie Kansan will not print guest columns that attack a reporter or another columnist.
V
EDITORIAL BOARD
Jonathan Kealing, Erick R. Schmidt, Gabriella Souza, Fenk Tankard, Dave Ruigh, Steve Lymn and Louis More
-
SUBMIT TO
111 Stauffer-Flint Hall
1435 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, KS 66045
(785) 864-4810, opinlon@kansan.com