4 University Daily Kansan/Tuesday, November 26, 1991 OPINION Informal recruiters Student groups help bring minorities to KU The office of admissions has worked diligently this year to recruit high school students of all colors and ethnic backgrounds to KU. However, not on the state payroll, working side by side with them have been members of the Black Student Union and the Hispanic American Leadership Organization. Each group has developed and implemented programs concentrating on the recruitment and retention of minority students at the University of Kansas. High school students want to hear about the University from a KU student's perspective. Therefore, student-to-student recruitment, which BSU and HALO concentrate on, is the most effective method for recruiting students. This is so not only because the interaction with students rather than administration officials is less formal, but also because high school students want to know what KU is "really like" from the viewpoint of someone besides an administrative recruiter. The importance of the administrative role in the recruitment process should not be taken for granted, because the administration can best provide the information about financial aid, tuition, campus fees, scholarships and enrollment. The dual roles that BSU and HALO members, as well as other students working to recruit more students to KU, play as college students as well as recruitment officers should be applauded by the entire University community. However, for these programs to continue to function effectively, it is imperative that each organization continues to be recognized by top administration officials. Further financial and public support is needed. Because if BSU, HALO and similar organizations stop their recruiting of minority students, the office of admissions will lose a powerful recruiting force. Jose Vasquez for the editorial board Abortion counseling Bush threatens freedom of speech with veto Last week President Bush vetoed a bill that would have lifted for one year his ban of federally financed abortion counseling. The House of Representatives tried to override the veto but fell 12 votes short. It is ridiculous that Bush vetoed this bill. With one veto he managed to take away a doctor's freedom of speech to inform a woman of all of her options. He also managed to interfere in the private counseling that should occur between a doctor and a patient. There is no reason for Bush to have done this. Because abortion remains legal in the United States, he has noright to tell doctors what they can and cannot say. A woman should know all of the options available to her. She then should be able to decide what is best for her. This measure also is unfair in that only federally financed doctors cannot discuss the option of abortion. This means that only women who cannot afford to go somewhere else for medical care will not get information that a woman who can pay for a doctor's visit might get. They should not suffer just because Bush decided to take a legal option away from them. About 4.5 million women receive counseling from these types of centers every year. What will happen to them? What will happen to women who may need abortions to survive because they might die in childbirth or the woman whose child won't survive birth? If Bush is concerned about women having abortions performed, why does he not set up prevention programs such as sex education classes in junior and senior high schools? It is not wrong that Bush is against abortion; that is his decision, and he has every right to it. What is wrong is forcing his opinion on others. Editorials reflect the opinion of the University Daily Kansan editorial board. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the board. Jackson, Ellen Kuwana, Holly Lawton, Holly Neuman, John Noltensmeyer, Karen Park, Jennifer Reynolds, Jennifer Tanous, Jose Vasquez, Julie Wasson and Frank Williams. Editorial board members are: Benjamin Allen, Kevin Bar-tels, James Baucom, Michael Dick, Amy Francis, Clarissa Amy Francis for the editorial board Karaoke provides fun college-style night out According to Forbes' recently published "Highest-Paid Entertainers" list, the New Kids on the Block earned a cool $151 million last year. That's $23 million a juvenile delinquent. Madonna raked in $63 million before taxes. Michael Jackson made $60 million, and he didn't even release an album. However, I'm sure these entertainers sing solely because they love to do it. I bet even if they didn't get paid, they'd still sing with the same passion that they do when they make the big bucks. Promoter: 'Michael, we can't afford to pay you for this concert, but you'll still perform because of your love for music, right?' Michael: (He laughs loudly and afferentiate. He then grabs his crochet and weaves it.) I always sing for the low, low cost of free. Maybe that's because the only thing my singing is good for is driving away unwanted raccoons. But the way I look at it, the whole point of singing is to have fun, not make money. That's why, whenever I get the chance, I Karaoke (pronounced Ker-oh-key). For those in the audience who think Karaoke is some sort of martial art, let me explain what it entails. First, you flip through the song selection book and pick a classic tune you'd like to sing, such as "Love Will Keep Us Together," by Captain and Tennille. When summoned by the individual operating the Karaoke machine, who is better known as the Karaoak guy, you take the stage and mutilate your selection beyond recognition. Music is provided, but the original music will be sung by them they will be sung by you. The lyrics to the songs are supplied by a television prompter, so the excuse "I don't know the words," is invalid. Every night of the week, at least one Lawrence bar offers Karaoke or Karaokeing, if that's a word. In Kansas City there are bars that actually give prize money to the person, or you can go to another word store. I'm not mistaken, that's how the Silver Platters won their money on that one "Brady Bunch" episode. Rich Bennett Staff columnist Anyway, Karaoke is actually a Japanese word meaning to dance and sing with the stars without instruments. That's funny, my guess would have made a fool of yourself for singing it in front of lots of people in a bar. There are three reasons why someone who is ordinarily a laid back and law-abiding citizen will get on a stage and scream the lyrics to forgotten oldies like "Harper Valley P.T.A.," 1) the inexplicable warm feeling you get by singing songs with your closest friends, 2) the excitement of getting on stage in front of dozens of people and 3) beer. By the end of the night, the Karaoke guy must physically remove people from the stage so he can go home and take care of his family. The stage of more happy college students. When people arrive at a bar offering Karaoke they always insist they will not get up on stage and make utter fools of themselves. But as the night wears on, people miraculously are dying to participate. He'll usually say something like, "I'm sorry, but the bar is making us stop now." Meaning: "You people are afraid for my life. Please go home." The last time I went Karaokeeing, when the Karaoke guy called it quits, a riot nearly broke out. Disgruntled patrons whipped their song selection onto the stage screaming things like, "Crucify the Karaoke guy." This incident proves that there's nothing more dangerous than an angry pack of Karakores. Except, a New Kid on the Block with a lighter. - Rich Bennett is an Overland Park senior majoring in journalism. Beer ban protesters should lend fervor to real problem Whenever I am in the midst of a deep existential malaise and whenever I look inside my heart and it all's black, I know there is one place I can always go for solace. I turn to the University Daily Kansan. Within the hallowed pages of this most august publication, I find wisdom and snippets of profundity — or just a good laugh. I came today to herald a new age of campus activism. Speak not of our generational apathy, for it is alive and well. Look no further than Page 3 of "thursday's Kansan." There they stand, three students in line, with the fight to protect our right to choose! Give me liberty or give me Bud! Nicolas Shump Guest columnist When I turned 18 in Kansas, it was legal to drink. Six months later the law was changed, and I witnessed the first and only political mobilization undertaken by my fellow students. It's nice to know that that spirit is still alive. What is even more surprising and heartwarming is the unselfishness of these protesters. Unselfish because obviously the two freshmen protesters and the two freshmen interviewed have nothing to gain by this, right? You don't think they are drinking illegally, do you? They are simply safeguarding the rights of their fellow countrymen. They regret that they have only one key to give to their country. As one of these freedom fighters, Jereme Day, said, without beer you lose enthusiasm for the game. I enjoy a drink as much as the next guy. I just do not find it essential to the Kansas football experience. I have been to games that I have enjoyed totally sober. If people do not really want to see the game, then why bother coming at all? If Kansas fans have to have alcohol to attend games, then are these the type of fans Kansas really wants? As far as the tradition of the Hill goes, these cereal malt zealots would be wise to take a look at the Campanile itself. That is a tradition worth preserving. We as students have a right to enjoy ourselves at the football games. The problem starts when people do not respect the rights or property of others. Lawrence has an existence and identity outside of the University. Having been both a resident of Lawrence and a KU student, I see how the two spheres can sometimes clash. When they do, agreements are reached and compromises are made. The importance of remember that this policy is not set in stone. Perhaps in time the University will reconsider. So if these socially concerned individuals really want to protest something or feel the desire to help their fellow citizens live a more life than is more to life than Strobing a party. - Nicolas Shump is a Topeka junior majoring in comparative literature. KANSANSTAFF HOLLY LAWTON Editor JENNIFERREYNOLDS Managing editor TOMEBLEN General manager, news adviser Editors Editors News Erik Schultz Editorial Karen Park Planning Sarah Davie Campus Eric Goraki Sports Mike Andrews Photo Brian Schoenii Features Tiffany Harness Graphics Melissa Unterberg KATIE STADER Business manager RICHHARSHBARGER Retail sales manager JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser Business Staff Campus sales mgrs . Leanne Bryant Regional sales mgrs . Jennifer Claxton Regional sales mgrs . David Macleish Co-op sales mgrs Production mgrs . Jay Steinler, Marketing director . Wendy Stertz Marketing director . Mia Behee Creative direction . Daniel Schaefer Classified mgr . 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