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Wednesday, July 13, 1994
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
100%
VIEWPOINT
Chancellor candidates should face public eye
Congratulations to the Board of Regents for dispelling the secretive, smoky-back-room image of the search for a new chancellor.
The Regents have appointed a search committee to find a replacement for Chancellor Gene Budig. The committee, after a search-and-interview process, will recommend five candidates to the Regents. These five names will be made public.
The announcement of these finalists appropriately informs and involves the public in this major decision.
A chancellor, whose job will place him or her often in the political and public eye, deserves a certain amount of public scrutiny during the hiring process.
The chancellor's job has become increasingly political. The new chancellor will have to be both director and diplomat in dealing with the legislature, students, staff and alumni.
Public knowledge of the finalists provides an additional test and measure for those seeking the job. Public reaction to the finalists may work as a guide for how well the prospective chancellor can perform this extremely public and political job.
Critics of the Regents plan claim that announcing the names will scare off prospective candidates.
The chancellorship is a job that requires extraordinary commitment. If prospective candidates are frightened away by the publicity, they don't have the dedication that the job requires. They don't have the ability to cope with the job's public nature.
The Regents' decision to announce the names of the finalists helps to insure that the most qualified and committed candidate will get the job.
MATT HOOD FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Kansans need to recall repay flood assistance
One year ago, Lawrence, along with many Midwestern cities, was dealing with a devastating flood. This year, several cities in Georgia are facing the same fate.
Lawrence and other Kansas cities received assistance from those unaffected by flooding. Now it is our turn to help the flood victims of Georgia.
Eastern Kansas is familiar with the destruction that many Georgians have witnessed during the past week. The flood that hit North Lawrence a year ago last weekend was the worst in more than 40 years.
Now, southern Georgia faces similar devastation. And in remembrance of the Flood of 1993, Kansas should begin repaying the kindness and support it received last year.
Many individuals may believe they are powerless to help. But one person could send canned goods. Another could send clothing. And yet another person could send money.
Concerned citizens can contact the Douglas County chapter of the American Red Cross for information on how to send aid. The number is 843-3550.
Such a combination of individual efforts along with the guidance of the Red Cross could go a long way in relieving current suffering in Georgia.
The power of individual voices would be further magnified if Kansans contact their state and national representatives who have the authority to encourage legislation for additional aid.
Neighborly assistance bridged the raging waters of '93. It's time again to reach across flood waters to provide a helping hand.
KATIE GREENWALD FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
KANSAN STAFF
DAVID STEWART Editor
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CATHERINE ELLSWORTH Systems coordinator
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Campus ... Roberta Johnson
... Susan White
Editorial ... Matt Hood
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Business Staff
Editors
Regional zone mgr .. J.J. Cook
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Woodstock II commemorates hippie-to-yuppie transformation
What a long strange trip it's been...
especially for the pot-smoking, free-loving, rock-and-rolling hippies of 1969 who danced and dazed their way through Woodstock. And now, with the help of original Woodstock coordinator Michael Lang, they'll have their chance to relieve the glory and magic of the old days.
Or will they? Their hipple days have come to an end — an ending marked by the acquisition of cellular phones, fax machines, and BMWs.
cert-goers would be camping out,
sleeping in their cars and eating whatever food they could scrounge with the few coins in their pockets.
An indication of Woodstock II's hipie-to-yuppie phenomenon was found in USA Today's listing of Woodstock area bed-and-breakfasts, ranging from $50- $95 nightly, based on double occupancy. In addition, Woodstock-area restaurants will feature assorted cuisine, with entrees ranging from $8.95- $22.95.
Every detail of Woodstock II's organization has been highly publicized and commercialized. USA Today devoted several stories last month to Woodstock II hype, each with a common thread: The hippies are now the hip, the yuppies.
and commercial venture.
In 1969, who the hull stayed at a bed-and breakfast and ate French food at the bistro on the corner? This isn't Woodstock. The hippies weren't CEOs and stockbrokers. Most of them were students with very little money. If it were Woodstock, con-
The concert of 1969 symbolized both peace and rebellion; the concert-goers were anti-war, anti-establishment and anti-conformist. The 25th-anniversary celebration, it appears, is primarily a publicity stunt
There is little likelihood that Woodstock II will be like the first love-in.
Now, a woman who owns a house bordering the Woodstock II site is charging $2,000 rent for the concert weekend. And her price may go higher, because, as the article indicated, she's holding out until just before concert time in hopes of raking in more cash.
Another difference between the original Woodstock and Woodstock II is that in 1969 those attending were high on marjuana. Now, concertgoers will be high on caffeine because vendors will be selling iced coffee and cappuccino-in-a-can.
These beverages and their caffeine high exemplify the move from hippie to yuppie. Instead of being laid back, those attending the concert will be strung out. They'll be bouncing off the walls frantically using cellular phones to call brokers to buy stock in Woodstock II and any company associated with it.
Companies contributing to Woodstock II stand to make huge profits. This is different from the original concert, which didn't make any money or have much financial backing. This year's production is sponsored by PolyGram Diversified Ventures. Lang said the sponsor's goal is just to break even. Whether or not this goal is reached, others are sure to capitalize on the venture.
Perhaps the most offensive part of Woodstock II is that it will be broadcast on pay-per-view TV. Also, there are rumors that Woodstock II will be made into a movie. That should rate up there with World Wrestling Federation bouts.
Times have changed and so have people. It's ridiculous to believe that 1969's peaceful revolution can be recaptured. Woodstock II, as in the case of many sequels, just won't be as good as the original.
Amanda Traughber is an Overland Park sophomore in Journalism.
Take a Quiktrip down memory lane
It's funny. You can find the best and worst of American culture in the oddest places. Our national love affair with the convenience store is one example. In their access, speed and abundance, they typify several qualities which make America great.
Convenience stores also mark some of America's worst qualities, especially suburbia's worst - glaring homogeneity, lack of substance and most important, absence of community.
Despite such flaws, the local Wik-Shop has become the exemplar of the American lifestyle, with its fast pace, easy access and ever-flowing soda fountain.
In other eras, general stores, drugstores, diners and drive-ins served roles similar to today's convenience stores. The difference between the Kwik-E-Mart and its predecessors is that those businesses were all heavy with a sense of individuality and community, while convenience stores are not. It doesn't matter whether you're in Houma, La, or Walla Walla, Wash—they're all exactly the same, down to the Twinkies right in front of the counter and the 49-cent refills.
The childhood memories of most college students are filled with stories of convenience store access and abundance. How many of us have recollections of running, while still dripping, over to the 7-11 from the neighborhood pool to buy three-cent bubble gum and Jolly Ranchers?
We became addicted to such conve-
When we rode our BMX bikes up to the Minute-Shop to slurp on Bomb-Pops and play video games. We did that because it was safe and easy. There was always a store close by. At 13, we were sneaking out to do the same thing. Not only was it nearby, the convenience store was open 24 hours.
mence early by forming a dependence on the fountain; first Icees as kids and later on Big Gulps.
The local Quiktrip's fountain also provided the perfect setting for our teenage rebellion. Every weekend night, we would go in and fill up our "squats" halfway, filling the other half up with Bacardi. We still picked up the inevitable Jolly Ranchers (and the Wrigley's Spearmint gum to camouflage our breath), but the main attraction was the fountain. To this day, the most popular summer drink is the 49-cent refill.
By high school, Quiktip had become THE hangout. One girl at my school even had a customized license plate that read, "CU AT QT." Friday and Saturday nights saw 20 or 30 carloads at a time milling in the parking lot. Through its easy access and favorable location, the convenience store became, for many of us, the equivalent of a town square.
Throughout our lives, we "twenty-somethings" have heard tales from our elders reminiscing about those halcyon days at the local diner or drive-in restaurant. And although
some of us even had such hangouts in our teens, by and large, it is as if our generation missed out on some pivotal developmental moment.
On the surface, it seems like we've lost a sense of community and individuality by favoring Handi-Stops and Kwik-Shops over small, family-run businesses. But people adapt, and our generation's experience shows that growing up with these places has given them a communal aspect all their own.
Stories like mine give Kwik-E-Marts a unique substance. They may not have the same legacy as the drug-stores and diners of our parents' day, but times have changed. America's passion for convenience has made the stores' omnipresence a reality. And they will continue to have a niche as long as we continue to value access and speed so highly. Meanwhile, our generation thrives through Jolly Ranchers, Bomb-Pops and especially the 49-cent refill.
Jack Lerner is a Lawrence senior, to English.
Placement of O.J. article inappropriate, misleading
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
I wanted to bring to your attention a concern about the article regarding O.J. Simpson in the Wednesday, July 6 issue. I find it distressing that the article, which primarily was relating facts about a pretrial hearing for a double homicide, was on the sports page. While I'm sure it was not intentional, the placement of that article next to information about the World Cup and a baseball union would associate the pretrial hearing with the sports world.
While I understand that the notoriety of the trial centers around a famous football player, whose innocence or guilt is irrelevant to me, it seems inappropriate to speak of murder and domestic violence in the same section as athletic events. At this point, wouldn't the news about the trial be more appropriately contained in the national news section?
Sarah Deer Wichita senior
Grad student believes AFDC unfairly targeted
Your recent editorial on welfare mentions "excesses that have helped to make welfare a national
Since AFDC costs so little, and you admit benefits are "meager at best," denial of benefits to some children, as you propose, is unnecessary. There is certainly no shortage of workers, so why force welfare mothers into minimum-wage jobs and their children into daycare as the Clinton plan suggests? Instead,
emergency." However, Aid to Families with Dependent Children consumes less that 1% of the federal budget and 2-3% of most state budgets. The average recipient family consists of a woman and two children receiving less than $400 per month. I wouldn't call this an excess or emergency.
we should increase welfare benefits and the minimum wage, which have been dropping in real terms over the last 20 years. Single-payer health care and increased income credit would also help.
The state and federal governments have spent more on my education than on the average welfare family's existence. Therefore, I am not entitled (or inclined) to join in the current attack on the poor, which you ironically call an attempt to "improve the circumstances of welfare mothers."
Michael Barfield Lawrence Graduate student