4 University Daily Kansan / Thursday, November 21, 1991 OPINION Senate acts wisely Groups rally to bring Jeanne White to KU When Magic Johnson suddenly announced that he had contracted through heterosexual contact the virus that causes AIDS, the reality of how widespread the disease is was brought home forcefully to millions of people nationwide. Once again, people realized the ramifications of unprotected sex. But even after this renewed awareness of AIDS emerged, the KU AIDS Task Force was denied the $2,775 in additional funds it requested to bring AIDS activist Jeanne White to campus. The Student Senate Finance Committee turned down the additional budget request last week. White is the mother of Ryan White, who died of AIDS-related complications in 1990. Her presence will cause students to look more closely at their community and at their own attitudes toward AIDS. congratulated for approving the request for extra money. But last night, Student Union Activities, the Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council and the Women's Student Union voiced support for the bill. More importantly, those groups put their money where their mouths were by offering to help finance the $4,000 honorarium to bring White to KU. The bill was reconsidered and passed by a three-fourths vote by the entire Senate. White will speak to that need with the conviction of someone who understands the horrors of the virus that causes AIDS. Kevin Bartels for the editorial board The groups who voiced support for the bill last night are to be commended for not letting an issue they deemed important die at the hands of a Student Senate committee. And Student Senate is to be Independent Centers lose touch with consumers As a disabled consumer of one of the Independent Living Resource Centers in Kansas, I worry about the direction the ILRCs are headed. It seems that in the past several years, the ILRCS have sacrificed their original goal of helping disabled persons achieve independence by making disabled persons dependent on the agencies. No doubt, the ILRCs have become another "social welfare" agency. Like so many agencies that receive money from the government, they prostitute themselves for all the money they can get. No longer do they physically fight for independence. If they were to do this, in their way of thinking, they would run themselves out of business. About all they do is assist the passage of good legislation, such as the Americans With Disabilities Act. After this, they drop the ball. They won't fight to see these laws enforced. They have become diplomatic social institutions, with much talk, and little-to-no action. Look at the population these so-called advocate centers serve. They are usually unemployed, low-income individuals. It is a population that most often knows its rights but is unable to afford the cost of protecting Frederick Markham Guest columnist However, when consumers like myself try to correct the situation, the people in charge say the only way to make the agencies more consumer-oriented is to apply for board membership I, and others like me, have applied for a position on the board. However, board members only choose the agency that has the same attitude or consumers who they know won't be as outspoken as many of the consumers who know how badly a change is needed. So, what can we as consumers of these centers do? First, we need to take over and run the centers ourselves. Second, we as consumers need to develop enough self-esteem to be proud of what and who we are, regardless of our economic and/or social status down the toilet again. I hope those days are gone. But only if we are determined for them to be. Let's not sell our selves short anymore. Let's fight back like we've never fought before. Let's gain back the independence that we battled for throughout the last two centuries. In other words, let's kick ... I think this best sums it up Where have all the centers gone? long time lasting. Where have all the centers gone? a long, long time ago. taken captives by the social system every one. When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn? Where have the social systems gone? When will they ever learn? Where have all the social systems gone? Where have all the social systems gone? long time lasting. bought by politicians every one. Suggest your response every on When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn? a long, long time ago. Where have all the politicians gone? long time lasting. Where have all the politicians gone? a long, long time ago. Where have all the politicians gone? bought by politicians every one When will they ever learn? bought by money every one. When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn? Where has all the money gone? long time lasting Where has all the money gone? long time lasting. Where has all the money gone? a long, long time ago. Where has all the money gone? taken from consumers every one. When will they ever learn? when will they ever learn? Wherehavealltheconsumersgone? long time lasting. Where has all the money gone? a long, long time ago. Where has all the money gone? taken from consumers every one even year? When will they ever learn? Where have all the consumers gone? here have all the cons long time lasting. Where have all the consumers gone? a long, long time ago. Where have all the consumers gone? doing nothing every one. When will we ever learn? When will we ever learn? ■ Frederick Markham is a Lawrence resident who graduated from KU with a degree in business communications. Question: Do you think beer advertisements are sexist? Why? ___ "Yes, definitely. There are a lot of commercials featuring 'the dream come true.' They show women in bikinis, and I don't think that anything to do with the taste of beer." Haleh Taghavi Freshman Pre-medicine Westlake, Ohio Kamella Farokhi Sophomore Pre-medicine Lawrence "Yes, they're sexist because they show how men can become macho by drinking beer. The people are always good looking. Advertisers assume consumers will go along with this group because we're close-minded." Eric Kipp Sophomore Pre-medicine Overland Park "Yes, but they're sexist toward both genders. They all exploit beauty; however, there is an emphasis toward a male-targeted audience." Shira Fogel Freshman Undecided Chesterfield, Mo. "Yes, some women could feel that they're sexist, but I don't get offended by it. It goes both ways. They show sexy men and women to sell the beer." Traci Moore Senior Journalism St. Louis "Yes, I think beer commercials are sexist in content, but they're appropriate for who their audience is. I think the producers of commercials use the same language in research as to what will attract consumers." Cory Anderson Senior Psychology Garden City "Yes, beer commercials are sexist. It's hard to argue for better treatment of women or a better perception of women when these things are allowed to happen. It's hard to change people's attitudes when they don't have a problem with viewing women as objects." KANSANSTAFF HOLLY LAWTON Editor JENNIFERREYNOLDS Managing editor Editors News ... Erik Schutz Editorial ... Karen Park Planning ... Sarah Davis Groovy ... Eric Groovy Sports ... Mike Andrews Photo ... Brian Schoenii Features ... Tiffany Harness Graphics ... Melissa Unterberg TOM EBLEN General manager,news adviser Editors by Mike Romane RICHARD HARSHBARGER Retail sales manager JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser KATIE STADER Business manager Business Staff Campus sales mgr Leanne Bryant Regional sales mgr Jennifer Clentton National sales mgr David McWalline Co-op sales mgr Lisa Keeler Production mgrs Jay Steiner, Wendy Stertz Marketing director Creative director David Habigbe Classified mgr Jennifer Jacquint Business Staff Letters should be name, 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 homework, or faculty or staff position. Guest columns should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 750 words. The writer will be pho­ neum. The Kansan reserves the right to re­ edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be ma­ lled or brought to the Kansan news­ room, 111 Stuart Flint Hall. 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