4A
Wednesday, October 26, 1994
OPINION
UN I V E R S I T Y D A I L Y K A N S A N
Friendships are the result of stage experience
BRIAN ENGLAND
Production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" leaves performers with friends, memories.
"Jesus Christ Superstar" came to a close Oct. 22, and nearly two months of work by the cast and crew went along with it.
All that is left of the show is some old costumes and maybe a few posters that are still hanging up around Lawrence. Even the set is gone.
But there is something left, something that cannot be taken down or dismantled. There is something more important than the show itself. I know and feel this because I had the fortune to be a part of the cast.
You see, during all those rehearsals, more than just practice, practice and practice was happening.
People were getting to know each other and learn about one another.
People were opening up and letting others inside them without fear of what was thought.
People were becoming friends.
People were becoming friends.
I have met people that I hope to be friends with for a long time, people that I consider myself very lucky to have had the opportunity to have met and to have gotten to know.
There were people like Lynette Valencia, Lawrence senior, who had a stress fracture in her foot yet still continued to dance her hardest, never complaining of the great pain she felt.
There were people like Chris Cormack, Abilene senior, who taught me to always do what I love, even if it doesn't seem to be the most "practical" thing.
There were people like Amy Leffo, Sioux City, Iowa, junior, with her beautiful smile or Ted Stamos, Prairie Village senior, with his sense of humor. These are people who I know have made my life a richer one and that I am proud to call my friends.
Even if I only keep in good contact with a few of these people, at least I have had the opportunity to meet, get to know and work with them on something wonderful.
I will be able to see them on campus, know what we did together and what we shared, and that can never be taken away from any of us in the cast. I consider myself very lucky.
life the thing that is most important, the thing that really, truly matters is other people. The thing that matters more than anything else in life is the relationships people have with other people and not money, power, prestige or any amount of applause.
And I'm just not talking about theater. In nearly every facet of life there are opportunities to meet and get to know wonderful people.
Maybe the opportunity comes in a class or maybe at work. There are always chances to know somebody great because there are great people all around us.
Everyone has something about them that makes them special and different from anybody else. We only
have to take the time to find out what that is.
And there is nothing to lose but a friendship.
So when I think back on "Jesus Christ Superstar," the first thing that I will remember will not be the hours of rehearsal or the excitement of the performances. It will be Chris or Lynette or Amy or Ted that I will remember. It will be all the people that I have had the chance to get to know and perform with.
It will be all the people that am proud to be friends with.
VIEWPOINT
Brian England is a Lenexa sophomore in English and theater.
The mudslinging candidates need to focus on the issues
A campaign trend is sweeping the nation.
From coast to coast candidates for public office have been participating in shoddy political
name calling. But instead of sticking to the traditional means of mudslinging by calling names, they have been
syndrome. If a candidate committed a true act against the American people, would we be able to recognize it in the midst of scores of mean-
NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNS
Voters should ignore
Voters should ignore the continuous bickering in recent campaigns to look for the issues that really matter.
questioning the ethics of everything from receiving campaign funds from fraudulent companies to receiving fur coats from special interest groups. Locally, we also have seen accusations of deception in ads when a former reporter became the voice of one gubernatorial candidate's campaign.
Another destructive byproduct of this sort of campaigning is that voters find it more difficult to separate the truly unethical practices of certain candidates from the typical mudslsing.
In essence, what we as a nation are experiencing is the "boy who cried wolf"
It is truly nothing new to hear candidates attacking one another for any number of alleged "indiscreations." The unfortunate result is that because of the time spent on attacking the other guy, no one has time to address the real issues.
ingless accusations?
Candidates are practically forcing apathy on voters by feeding them mud to the
point of vomiting.
The time has come for candidates to change the pronouns they use. Voters are sick to death of hearing "he, she, his, her" from political hopefuls. What we need to hear more of is "I, me, my," as in "I believe... To me the solution seems to be... My plan is..."
But until candidates get the picture and begin to care about voters instead of simply trying to turn voters against their opponents, it is up to us to demand that candidates address the issues. We cannot let them off the hook until they do.
We must ignore the continuous bickering and meaningless mudslinging and look for the things that really affect us.
Instead of asking what a candidate has done wrong, ask what a candidate has done right. And if they cannot answer using "I," move on.
DONELLA HEARNE FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD.
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Sean Finn / KANSAN
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Readers have right Sports should not to know finalists control University
The Kansan editorial calling for the chancellor's search committee to keep secret the names of the five finalists to replace Gene Budig marks a new low in KU journalism.
The sight of would-be journalists arguing for secrecy in government is deeply distressing and embarrassing. The choice of a new chancellor has a direct impact on every student and prospective student, every faculty and staff member, and every Kansas taxpayer, especially those who intend to send a son or daughter to KU.
They deserve to know the identities of the five individuals who are finalists to lead the largest public institution in Kansas.
The Kansan's readers would be better served if its staffers were trying to provide information about the selection process and those who aspire to be chancellor rather than writing editors' urging that the public be denied such information.
Ted Frederickson Professor of Journalism
Journalism is about openness, not secrecy.
The business of athletics at the University of Kansas is out of hand.
The organizers had less than two days to change their plans, hardly a fair or even feasible task for an event the size of the Wheat Meet. Couldn't Coach Mason have scheduled a late practice or moved to one of the many practice fields on campus. Clearly, money raised for cancer research does not hold the same import for them as the money raised at a football game for purposes that are somewhat less charitable.
Recent events with our University's Athletic Department are affecting not only varsity level athletes, but members from every other sector of the University community as well.
The second situation, also related to the KUK-State game, deals with the evening parking situation, as reported by the Kansan on Oct. 5.
The first of the events to which I am referring is the last minute decision by Glen Mason that his team needed to practice on the afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 2, before the KU/KState game. This decision was made even though the Omega's Wheat Meet, an annual event to raise money for cancer research, had been scheduled there since February.
I pose this question to every person who helps run and administer this University: Who are you running it for? The alumni? The athletes? The great god of money? The professed goal of this school is to educate and enrich its students, not to make businessmen rich. This University in which I thought I had enrolled is far different, sadly, than the one in which I am actually enrolled.
Those of us who have purchased parking passes at the University would have been towed if we were in our allotted lot at the allotted time on Thursday.
Genevieve Nagy Lawrence senior
Reportedly, this is so the alumni will have room to park. This is ridiculous! I am paying for this education, I am paying for student services, I am paying for my parking pass. And if I am parked behind the Union at 5 p.m. on Thursday, I want to keep that parking place! Is this threat of towing the cars of students and University employees even legally sound?
The message sent is clear that this University focuses on the parts of the Athletic Department that earn the most money. When that part is threatened, inconvenienced or even annoyed, it will immediately take precedence over whatever sector opposes it.
DAVID ZIMMERMAN
Last week, USA Today ran a cover story on the James Madison University Marching Band. The article claimed the James Madison Band was one of the best bands in the nation and raved on and on about how hard the band worked each week. Now, I have never seen the JMU band march. I did meet a friend this summer, however, from JMU who made such lofty claims about her school's Marching Band. To this I have to say — what are we, chopped woodwind!
Marching band deserves more appreciation
I marched with our marching band for my first two years at school. I enjoyed every bit of it. I cherish every drop of sweat that fall from my body as I marched on the astroturf inferno. I look back with fondness on the two toes I lost to frostbite one wintry November game (just kidding). My marching experience with the Marching Jayhawks was something I will always value.
However, since our marching band did not achieve the fame of a national newspaper, I would like to do my part to recognize them in the Kansan.
For two measly credit hours, the members of our band put at least six hours a week into practicing and preparation for their shows. This time does not include Saturdays. They practice in the rain, heat, high winds (which is hard if you march a sousaphone), and even snow. The result: one of the best marching bands in the Big Eight, if not the nation.
Did you go to the K-State game? We lost the football game, but we won the battle of the bands. Did you notice? Sure the K-State band sounded good (and they did have a "flag-boy"), but their show left something to be desired. I was especially impressed with the big, uh, line they formed in one of their songs.
This coming Saturday, for Homecoming, our marching band will be joined with Alumni who marched when they were here. Now is the time to show them our appreciation. Let's give them the standing ovation they deserve.
On the other hand, our show sounded great as well as had complicated formations that fit perfectly with the music.
David Zimmerman is a Wichita senior in communications.
we owe our band a little more than that. They put long, hard hours into their shows, which they do for our entertainment.
But when the K-State band took the field, their fans went wild. But when the Marching Jayhawks marched on, the crowd response was pitiful.
HUBIE
By Greg Hardin