OPINION
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14,2007
19 GOING ON 40
to petition the government for a redress of grievances
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Distribution of student salaries needs second look
Senators' salaries unjustly large compared with other undergraduate positions
Many of you have already heard about the University's decision to give certain members of the Student Senate hierarchy so-called "free tuition," so I will spare you most of the details.
Lynn Bretz, director of University Communications, said that under current University policy the president, vice-president, treasurer and legislative director of the undergraduate Senate and the treasurer, communications
the treasury and finance executives of the graduate Senate do not get paid.
The only compensation they receive for their work—besides getting into almost
any graduate school or job that they want after college—is the benefit of paying "staff fees," which are slightly less than "resident tuition." Therefore, those students who live in-state are not really receiving a benefit at all.
However, according to the Student Senate payroll, these students already receive $340 every two weeks. If this is true, then there is absolutely no reason to revise the current policy.
I get it that these students do a lot for the University and deserve to be compensated. But $2,922 each semester seems a bit overboard. When I calculated the amount they will be receiving if money were paid out each week like a real job, (subtracting finals week, the weeks of Fall break and Thanksgiving break and including the week before Hawk Week), these students will be receiving $230 a week, or $15 an hour for 15 hours a week.
When I asked her if the University had thought about applying this policy to other highly involved individuals in student organizations, she said that she doubted any other student group spent comparable amounts of time helping the University and that they would have a hard case to make if they thought they did.
Bretz said the reason these students deserve such a large sum of money is because of the amount of time and effort their jobs take. She also said that it is a common practice for universities to provide benefits to students who take on large responsibilities, whether that is an hourly rate or some other means of compensation.
I can't speak for other organizations, but I know for a fact that the editors of the Kansan put in a comparable amount of work and time to that of the student senate hierarchy—and worse hours too.
We get paid hourly, but it's half the amount as they will receive; we get paid University minimum wage just like everyone else.
I've heard the argument that if it were not for Student Senate, we would not have students representing our voice to the University. If it was not for the Kansan no one would know what Student Senate was up to, which personally makes me uncomfortable.
Here's an idea. What if we
stopped producing the Kansan just because we felt like it (considering we're so expendable)? I know some smart-alcecks out there would not care, and other-
ers would miss only Free For All and the entertainment page, but most reasonable students understand what a tragedy it would be if there was no one to alert them of activities and changes in policies around campus.
DRAWING BOARD
I'm not trying to petition for more money or toot my own horn. I'm just trying to point out that there are other organizations that bring as much to the table as Student Senate and are not reaping such enormous benefits, and the only way I know how to prove that is through the only organization I am a part of, the Kansan.
In addition, I would like to say that there are other members of the Student Senate hierarchy who would not be affected by this revision who put in just as much time and work as those being affected, which is not fair either.
Another Kansan staff member also pointed out to me that she would hope that these students are already on merit-based scholarships that provide these benefits. True. One can only hope the students making all the decisions that affect us are smart enough to receive scholarships. One can only hope.
My suggestion is simply that these Student Senate members be treated the same way that the rest of us who work for the University are treated. They should only receive the University minimum wage for their time, which can be feasibly estimated considering it is at the Kansan and it seems to work out just fine for us.
Chambers is a Paola sophomore in journalism and political science. She is Kansan special sections and correspondent editor.
THE DURBIN DISPATCH
MAX RINKEL
Suicide simply not just a statistic
Reports surface shedding light on both increased attempts and deaths by teenagers
Death is a subject that someday everyone will face. Not only
do we all have to accept our own, but a majority of us will be affected with friends and family passing away through the course of time. Often, those deaths leave us with marks, memories, and impacts that are carried with us through life, and sometimes into the lives of others. It is because of those marks, memories, and impacts that I have chosen to write this column; a dedication to those lives.
It is fully understood that the only way to enter this world is through the miracle of birth; however, when looking at exiting, or death, it's significant to understand that it comes in
many forms; one of these ways being suicide.
Recently it has been reported that there is an alarming increase in the amount of teen suicides plaguing this country. In fact, the amount has risen so dramatically, that scientists are slightly baffled at the reason behind the increase. Normally I would take this news with a grain of salt, and chalk it up to just another statistic Unfortunately however, over the course of the year I personally have been affected by a number of friends and classmates ending their lives too young.
It is true that very few actions generate as much emotion in family members or friends as suicidal behavior. On average, for every suicide there are six survivors left behind (I find this statistic very conservative) to cope with complex feelings of shock, grief, anger, guilt, and the haunting question of "Why?" Some experts even rank the trauma of losing a loved one to suicide as "catastrophic," possibly even similar to
surviving a concentration camp experience.
Death from suicide is different from others forms because the people we love dearly seem to choose death over life. However, it's important to understand that in reality the goal of suicide is a release from pain, not a release from life.
On August 31, someone I knew chose to end their life at the tender age of seventeen, and it created an earthquake of emotion that will be felt for decades. As someone who is looking at this from the sidelines, it's hard for me to comprehend the psychological trauma that led to the end of a truly amazing person. I know a few of the main reasons this person chose suicide over life was due to fact that they felt alone and helpless, but the truth is they were not alone, nor were they helpless. The heart of my article is not to preach about suicide, but to rather make people aware that no matter how alone or helpless you feel, there is always someone who loves, cares, and
needs you.
I have watched this suicide not only affect their family and their immediate friends, but an entire community who is now grieving for the loss of a life cut short. I would give anything to show this person the words, the tears, the memories, the photographs, and the impacts they have left not only on my heart, but the worlds.
I leave this column with a few last requests: Live your lives letting the people who are important to you know that you care; love is one of the most important things we have. If someone you know is depressed, please talk to them and encourage them to get help if it's needed. And last but not least, remember those who have lost their lives to suicide, because as a survivor of suicide, Norman Cousins says, "Death is not greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live."
Durbin is a Hays junior in English and journalism.
FREE FOR ALL: 864-0500 OR KANSAN.COM/FACEBOOK
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
To the guy I almost hit with my car yesterday; Sorry, the sun was in my eyes. Also, you need to be a little more careful.
Dear Freet for All, which girl in the Pizza Street commercial is the best? They all seem sketchy.
To that girl in my Journalism 101 class: Could you please quit saying "like" every time you open your mouth? Go back to elementary school, like, such as, like, English, perhaps. Did you laugh?
Whoever called in saying the swim team is the hardest working team on campus is lying. It's the rowers, and everyone in the athletics department knows that.
possibly? Ridiculous!
Does anyone know what the deal is with that old, crazy, hippie guy that's around campus?
My English class smells like cigarettes and B.O. Ugh, stupid hippies.
I think I'm in love with the weather.
To whoever called the cops on my car: You failed. I just got the citation dismissed.
Chuck Norris puts the "fun" in "funeral."
F. Y.I., whoever orders Pizza Shuttle, make sure you order a straw with your drink. I mean, come on.
Leave Britney alone!
I'm not on my period.
To Ms. Sniffles on fourth floor Watson: Couldn't you have at least tried to whisper?
I just want you to know that I like to wear tampons, even when
Free for All, you still have a pack age waiting you at the Jayhawker Towers front desk.
My friend got hit by a car on his bike on a crosswalk and on the way home. I almost did too. What's up with all these crazy college drivers?
TALK TO US
Erick R. Schmidt, editor
864-4810 or eschmidt@kansan.com
NOW THAT YOU'VE READ THE OPINION PAGE, HAVE AN OPINION?
Eric Jorgensen, managing editor
864-8410 or ejorjensen@kansan.com
Darla Silpke, managing editor
864-8410 or delpike@kansan.com
Kelsey Hayes, opinion editor
Bryan Dykman, associate opinion editor
864-4924 or dykman@kansan.com
Kelsey Hayes, opinion editor
864-4924 or khayes@kansan.com
Jackie Schaffer, advertising director
864-4358 or jschaffer@kansan.com
Katie Abrahamson, sales manager 864-4477 or katiea@kansan.com
Malcolm Golub, general manager, news adviser
844-7667 or mlgolub@anag.com
Jon Schitt, sales and marketing adviser
864-7686 or jschitt@kansan.com
SUBMISSIONS
The Kansan welcomes letters to the editors and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumni. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length, or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Kelsey Hayes or Bryan Dykman at 864-4810 or e-mail opinion@kansan.com. General questions should be directed
to the editor at editor@kansan.com.
LETTER GUIDELINES
Maximum Length: 200 words
Include: Author's name and telephone number; class, hometown (student);
position (faculty member/staff); phone number (will not be published)
GUEST COLUMN GUIDELINES
Maximum Length: 500 words
Include: Author's name and telephone number; class, hometown (student); position (faculty member/staff); phone number (will not be published)
Also: The Kansan will not print guest columns or letters that attack a reporter or another columnist.
The Editorial Board
Erick R. Schmidt, Eric Jorgensen, Daria Silke, Kelsey Hayes, Bryen Dykman, Brandon T. Minister, Angelique McNaughton and Benjamin R. Smith
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