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University Daily Kansan / Thursday, December 5, 1991
OPINION
Apathy is problem
Homeless children need social solutions
There are more than 1 million children in the United States who have no home in which to do their homework. Ninety-one of these children are right here in Lawrence. Seventy-eight of them are in elementary school.
The statistics indicate the escalation of this problem. Because these children are homeless, the chances are less likely that they will continue in school. Many dropout before junior high school.
These children may never get a chance.
They get little sleep, have little social contact and fall behind in their education. They are cold and they are hungry. The best that the educational system
can do is provide an environment where these children can have a free lunch and a place to get off the street.
Their plight is a classic example of limited social awareness and apathy. That we do not care enough to invest in our children, our very future, should be an embarrassment for all of us. OK, you might say, what can we do?
We can use our heads, for starters. Most of us are so dreadfully stuck in our own world that we simply don't take the time to think creatively. One man in New York City took the time to help the less fortunate.
Jim Hubbard, a former Associated Press photographer, searched the
streets of the city for homeless schoolchildren. He gave them a quick lesson in photography, a camera and turned them loose. The project was called "Shooting Back," and the resulting pictures were both artistic and profitable. Proceeds from the work were funnelled back into the community, and several of the young photographers now have permanent addresses.
That's turning a disadvantage into an advantage. John Lennon was right when he said there are no problems, only solutions. Think about it on your way home from school.
Michael Dick for the editorial board
Misguided policy
Race-based scholarships should continue
Once again the Bush administration is attacking affirmative action, and this time has chosen the arena of higher education in which to do it.
The Department of Education has proposed banning race-based scholarships. Race could no longer be a consideration for awarding scholarships.
On the surface, it may seem like a sound policy to not allow a form of discrimination to decide who gets scholarship money. But for it to be a sound policy, we have to assume our society is never discriminatory in any way, and we know that is not true.
Race-based scholarships are a form of affirmative action.
Like it or not, our society is racist. When two students who are equally qualified to receive a scholarship compete against each other and one is a minority the minority student is less likely to receive the scholarship.
It may not be the fault of those awarding the scholarship; it may be because the minority student's high school is within a disadvantaged district. Whatever the reason, it is important to use affirmative-action scholarships to balance the racist society in which we live.
By saying that race should not be an issue in awarding scholarships does not make the racism that already exists go away.
William Gray, who heads the United Negro College Fund, said the department's proposed policy sounded as though the administration was playing
racial politics to appease the far right.
He is right.
When you consider that less than 1 percent of all students enrolled in colleges and universities are beneficiaries of minority-targeted scholarships,you begin to wonder why the Bush administration has decided it is important to do away with programs that actively are fighting discrimination in our society.
Bushcannot have it both ways. Hecannot maintain that he has the best interests of minorities in mind and then do away with affirmative-action programs.
Benjamin Allen for the editorial board
Question: What do you think of the Kansas men's basketball team's new uniforms?
Mike Penelton
Freshman
Architecture
Edwardsville, Ill.
"I think it's for the better, because everyone has them. The Chicago Bucks got bigger shorts a little while ago. The black shoes are a good change."
Janice Lahue Senior English Leawood
"I like them because it's a new and different style. It reminds me of the old clips of Jayhawk basketball in the '50s."
Hampton Stevens
Junior
Humanities
Leawood
"It's a great blend of the traditional and the modern. I don't like the red in general, but I think the black shoes and baggy uniforms are cool. Their uniforms are like the best in the country."
Rochelle Paris
Junior
Human biology
Kansas City, Kan
"I like the shorts because they fit the players. In the past, Macolm's (Nash) shorts didn't fit him. The black shoes are fine. I just don't know where they get the red from."
Al Suares
Junior
Industrial design
Long Island, N.Y.
"I like the new Kansas uniforms because the black shoes really set an aggressive mood."
Megan Growcock
Junior
Biology
Lenexa
"Well, personally I think we should concentrate on the team more and not their uniforms. But since you asked I 'm not real crazy about the shorts. I think they 're a little long."
KANSANSTAFF
HOLLY LAWTON
Editor
JENNIFER REYNOLDS Managing editor
TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser
Editors
Editors
News Erita Schutz
Editorial Karen Park
Planning Sarah Davis
Campus Eric Goraki
Sports Mike Andrews
Photo Brian Schoenii
Features Tiffany Harness
Graphics Melissa Unterberg
KATIESTADER Business manager
RICHARD HARSHBARGER Retail sales manager
JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser
by Tom Michaud
Business staff
Campus sales mgrs Benny Bryant
Regional sales mgrs Jennifer Claxton
National sales mgrs David McWalsh
Co-op sales mgrs LaKeer Lee
Production mgrs Jay Steiner,
Wendy Sterts
Marketing director
Creative director David Habiger
Classified mgr Jennifer Jacquoin
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 Kansas must include class and hometown, or faculty or staff position. Guest columns should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be phoned. The Kansan reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Safer Flint Hall.
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