4A
Monday, October 17; 1994
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Apathy could be taxing; students should vote
DAVID ZIMMERMAN
The cure for student
The cure for student apathy is really quite simple: register to vote and pay attention.
Last week, I received a phone call from a company doing a survey. The survey was about whom I was going to vote for in the November elections. My first reaction was to answer for the republican candidates in each race, but then my conscience got to me. How can I simply support someone based on their party? Besides, I was just saying that because I hadn't been keeping up with the races or the candidates.
My name is David Zimmerman, and I am an apathetic student.
As students, we are mostly apathetic. There are a few who take stands and are active in politics, but for the most part, students don't care.
I think there are two basic reasons why most students are apathetic to
The second reason we are apathetic is that apathy is appealing. The appeal of apathy is two-fold: It is easy and comfortable.
the things around them. The first reason is we have a lot to worry about just in our classes. For myself, I have an extensive project due Oct. 24 in one class in addition to the three group projects I have at the end of the semester for another class. Right now, the elections in November are the least of my worries.
The ease of apathy comes from us not having to make hard decisions. Deciding who to vote for, if we really take the time to find the best candidate, is a complicated issue. It takes time and effort to figure out who would best represent my views.
And apathy is a comfortable state. The comfort comes from not having to take a stand — no one likes being viewed as a radical; it's more comfortable to blend into the masses.
There are problems in being apathetic, however.
The first problem with apathy is putting up with decisions someone else makes. For instance, in this coming election a sales tax is on the ballot. If the more than 25,000 students of KU don't vote against this issue, the tax will be approved, and we will have to pay the price (literally) for our apathy. If we take no action to prevent the passing of this tax, how can we complain when we have to pay it?
Another reason we are apathetic is that we want to blend in with our
friends. If this is a genuine concern of yours, GET SOME NEW FRIENDS! Real friendship goes beyond politics or other issues. If your friends are so shallow that you have to be just like them, you should question if you are even friends in the first place. If, on the other hand, you know your friends will love you despite any views you might disagree on, what are you waiting for? There's nothing wrong with being a little radical once in a while.
So what now? What is the cure for apathy? Do something! Register to vote in the coming election (you have until Oct. 24). Review the candidates and make your decision.
To help you review the candidates, the Kansan is a great resource. Note
on the bottom of the first page where a candidate is interviewed. Read it and make a decision for yourself. Also, on Oct. 18 and 20 the Student Political Awareness Task Force and The League of Women Voters will be sponsoring debates between the Kansas Gubernatorial and Third District Congressional candidates.
My problem is that I am preaching to the choir — if you are taking the time to read this, you are probably not one of the apathetic masses. Your apathetic friends need your help. Make them read this column, give them a copy of the Kansan's interviews, or drag them to the debate.
VIEWPOINT
South Lawrence Trafficway a desperate community need
Despite the recent controversy surrounding the issue, Lawrence desperately needs the South Lawrence Trafficway. Without it. 23rd Street
c o u l d become a two-mile long parking lot.
David Zimmerman is a Wichita senior in communications studies
Not building the bypass would be shortsighted and irrespon-
is an accepted alternative with the Environmental Protection Agency under their "No Net Loss" policy.
The second major controversy deals with the
LAWRENCE TRAFFICWAY
Without the proposed
South Lawrence
Trafficway, 23rd Street
could become a
two-mile long
parking lot.
sible to the needs and demands of the Lawrence community.
The Trafficway is designed to reduce some of the congestion on 23rd Street. Anyone who has driven on 23rd, especially around 5 o'clock, knows that something has to be done. Traffic on the overburdened 23rd Street will not be reduced unless the trafficway is built.
Rather than using the current 31st Street plan, we recommend that the county choose the 35th Street route. It will be an effective bypass, as well as a suitable compromise.
One of the biggest roadblocks to the Trafficway has been the concern over the wetlands in the projected paths. While concern for these wetlands may be justified, it is not without an adequate solution.
Wetlands claimed by the new highway could be replaced by new wetlands in another area. This idea
spiritual site for Haskell Ind i a n Nations University. Opponents argue that the current plan, using the 31st
Street route, would ruin Haskell's "Medicine Wheel."
This is one of the primary reasons for moving the route from 31st Street to 35th Street. While this would still cross part of Haskell's land, it would spare their religious site.
The Trafficway will not only serve the short-term goal of reducing traffic on 23rd Street. It will be invaluable to Lawrence transportation in the 21st century. Any town of moderate size needs adequate roads. Imagine Kansas City today without I-435 or I-35.
Building highways is never an easy process especially in or around a city.
No one can be blamed for not wanting a highway going through their back yard.
But if Lawrence wants to continue to be a vibrant, progressive town, the South Lawrence Trafficway is a necessity.
RICHARD BOYD FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
KANSAN STAFF
STEPHEN MARTINO
Editor
CHRISTOPH FUHRMANS Managing editor
TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser
CATHERINE ELLSWORTH Systems coordinator
JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser
JEN CARR Business manager
CAMERON DEATH Retail sales manager
News ... Sara Bennett
Editorial ... Donella Heane
Campus ... Mark Martin
Sports ... Brian James
Photo ... Daron Bennett
Melissa Lacey
Features ... Tracil Carl
Planning Editor ... Susan White
Design ... Noah Musser
Assistant to the editor .. Robbie Johnson
Editors
Business Staff
Campus mgr ... Todd Winters
Regional mgr ... Laura Guth
National mgr ... Mark Mastro
Coop mgr ... Emily Gibson
Special Sections mgr ... Jen Pierer
Production mgrs ... Holly Boren
... Regan Overy
Marketing director ... Alan Stigic
Creative director ... John Carlton
Classified mgr ... Heather Nebusas
Letters should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 200 words. They must include the writer's signature, name, address and telephone number. Writers affiliated with the University of California Press will receive priority.
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The Kansan reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be nailed or brought to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall.
Sean Finn / KANSAN
Sticking to one thing isn't always easy to do
So anyway, I have this problem. I was trying to think of ideas for my next column, stream-of-consciousness style, when I realized I can't seem to stick to the point.
So I asked my friend what he would write about if he had a column, hoping for something concrete.
"You know what really pisses me off?" he said, "People who write about being Right."
"You mean Right Wing? Conservative types?" I asked. "You know they have right to express themselves, too. It's not a very popular opinion, but I believe all speech is protected under the law."
"No, I mean people who just shoot off at the mouth about what's wrong with the world and who think that their answer is the Great Truth that we're all looking for."
That led me to another controversial point that I probably should not discuss. But why should i stop now? I feel sorry for the media these days—they get a lot flack. But some of it is well deserved.
Personally, I always thought I would grow up to be a great journalist, working for a prestigious East Coast daily, pounding a really interesting beat or toiling on some in-depth expose about corrupt government officials. Bob Woodward watch out! After about four years of being a reporter and an editor, I would finally come to the conclusion that I just could not do it anymore.
COLUMNIST
I got to thinking, and I said to myself,
"You know, Dave — he's right!"
DAVID JOHNSON
What I found extremely amusing was this group of people who went around saying they knew exactly what other people should read and see — and what scared me was I was one of them. So I gave it up, I came to KU thinking I could probably get a magazine journalism degree without working on the Kansan (not possible) and that I could probably get away with never having to write a lot
of news stories (possible).
Please understand that I am an exception. I'm not pooh-poohing the School of Journalism. The faculty is great and there really is a good atmosphere, if you're interested. You may be saying, "Dave, why in hell did you stay with it then?" Well, I'm not sure really.
So I found my niche in publication design. Which, luckily, is becoming more accessible to people with no art background. Yeah, I can fit that story there, but draw a straight line? Are you kidding?
I know there was a point I was trying to make when I started writing...oh yeah, I have trouble sticking to the subject.
Can anyone give a truly legitimate response to why they major in something? I mean, you can get the same knowledge about people by waiting tables than getting a psychology degree these days. And who has a philosopher on the payroll in the '90s? Journalists get jobs, so they tell me, and if you pump up your resume and work on your interviewing skills, there's nothing you can't accomplish.
David Johnson is a Coffeyville senior in magazine Journalism.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR All-knowing voice on sex not needed
It is apparent in Mr. Zimmerman's editorial that he believes the words "bible" and "God" are synonymous, and that he doesn't understand the difference between morality and ethics.
Zimmerman's awkward phrase "sexuality ethics" is really about morality. In that regard, he is like Fred Phelps. Neither of them seem to have anything better to do with their hearts and minds than invade the privacy and dictate the behavior of consenting adults.
It has been my observation that people who defend their ideas by first saying, "It's written in ..." have usually stopped just short of thinking for themselves. Why should an omnipotent and onuscient being concern himself with the petty, physical gratifications of consenting adults? Mr. Zimmerman, if you choose to live blindly by the dictate of others, that is your prerogative, but keep your moralizing to yourself.
But, for the sake of argument,
let's say you're right. Let's say that my salvation hinges on how I conduct myself sexually. What of it? My salvation is a personal issue that I must face in due time.
Fair warning then, Mr. Zimmerman, and I'm certain I speak for many others: Keep your prudish nose out of my sexual business.
David-Michael Allen Graduate Student, Theater
Multiculturalism is carried too far
When I finished the article, "Students Search for Identity," in Monday's *Kansan*, I shook my Swedish-Scottish-German-Croatian-American head in discombulation. When I hear the term "Oriental," I think of a rich and brilliant cultural heritage and not the "runs" Teresa Hun suggests.
Multiculturalism is being carried to such an extreme that we are building walls instead of bridges. Consider these excerpts: "It's comforting to identify with a larger group. But the term (Asian American) isn't specific at all. We are so much more diverse." Do I have to know what borough of Taipei, Taiwan, you are from before I can address you without being culturally insensitive?
And, "Considering the low number of Asians in America, the more we.group together, the better off we'll be." What does this last sentence mean, taken to its logical extreme?
Well, that's easy. I'm Jason,
dammit.
To me, it sounds like the same rhetoric that produced racially homogeneous neighborhoods, where the phrase "there goes the neighborhood" originated. And what about my identity?
Mixed Media
Jason Popovits Lawrence resident
By Jack Ohman