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University Daily KansanWednesday, November 6, 1991
OPINION
Applaud U.S. Senate for killing energy bill
The U.S. Senate killed an energy bill Friday that would have allowed oil drilling in part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Natural habitats too precious
alternative sources of fuel and ways to better utilize the fuel that already is available.
Supporters of the bill said that the drilling would have helped to reduce U.S. dependency on foreign oil and would have provided jobs. Those supporters claimed that only a small coastal part of the refuge would have been used.
But opponents said that the drilling would have harmed one of the last great wilderness areas, which is a habitat for polar bears and caribou. Those opponents said the bill focused too much on oil production and not enough on conservation.
It is good that the energy bill was not passed. To drill for more oil is only a temporary answer to the growing energy problem. Steps need to be taken to find
Oil is a limited resource. Natural habitats are limited, too. Both should be treated with care and respect. Energy crises have occurred in the past. It is time to develop alternative energy sources. Oil eventually will be used up. Would you want to say the same about natural habitats?
Amy Francis for the editorial board
Release could be dangerous
Murderers should not be allowed low bonds
When Tommy Williams recently was convicted of first-degree murder in Jackson County, Mo., the mother of his victim expected to see him handcuffed.
But he was released on $50,000 bond and will remain free until he is sentenced Nov. 27.
In Missouri, the punishment for first-degree murder is either the death penalty or life in prison with no chance for parole. The prosecutors in this case did not seek the death penalty.
Because of a Missouri Supreme Court ruling, prisoners facing life in prison are not allowed to post bond before an appeal. This rule, however, does not apply until the defendant is formally sentenced.
The judge's decision to release
Williams broke no rules, but it has drawn criticism from Dorothy Harrison, the victim's mother, and members of a group called Parents of Murdered Children.
To avoid violating the defendant's rights, most judges will allow the chance to post bond after convictions. But judges usually set the bond high enough that most defendants cannot afford to post bond.
And in those cases that the defendant faces life with no chance for parole, it makes sense that a judge would set the bond that high.
What would deter a person who is waiting to be sentenced to life without parole from committing other crimes?
ing such a sentence want to go back for sentencing? What does the defendant have to lose if he simply chooses to leave the city or state?
This is exactly what happened in Jackson County last July when another judge released a convicted murderer on bond. The defendant in that case never returned for sentencing and is now a fugitive.
Editorials reflect the opinion of the University Daily Kansan editorial board. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the board.
Furthermore,whywoulda personfac
Opinions expressed in guest and staff columns and cartoons are soley those of the author or artist. Views expressed in columns and cartoons are not necessarily shared by the Kansan.
Judges certainly should protect the rights of the convicted. But setting low bonds for convicted murderers could prove to be a dangerous precedent.
Julie Wasson for the editorial board
Editorial board members are: Benjamin Allen, Kevin Bartels, James Baucom, Michael Dick, Amy Francis, Clarissa Jackson, Ellen Kuwana, Holly Lawton, Holly Neuman, John Noltensmeyer, Karen Park, Jennifer Reynolds, Jennifer Tanous, Jose Vasquez, Julie Wasson and Frank Williams.
LETTERS to the EDITOR
Column lacks art knowledge
After reading the column by Valerie Gilore titled "Indian art exhibit presented in the wrong museum," I too was "gretestly ashamed." The shame however, falls on Gilore for allowing herself to pass through four education without knowledge of the relationship between art and culture.
More than three years ago, the Museum of Anthropology, Haskell Indian Junior College and the Lawrence Arts Center collaborated their talents, knowledge and skills to fulfill a need: to promote cultural awareness of Lawrence's large American landscape, fulfilling this need, their collective efforts gave birth to the Lawrence Indian Art show.
For three years the LIAS has provided a way for American Indian artists from all around our nation to proudly display both traditional and contemporary works of art. In addition, the LIAS also has created a strong bond of communication and unity between KU, Haskell and the Lawrence Arts Center. In addition to the show at the Museum of Anthropology, events include other exhibits throughout the city, traditional craft workshops, musical and dance performances and an Indian Market where artisans and patrons from across the nation come to sell their wares.
The role of the Museum of Anthropology in this special event is to show its hundreds of patrons show the work of the American Indian artists has changed as well as retained traditional value.
If Gilgore had bothered to look at the entire museum as well as actually read the labels, she would have seen that the permanent exhibit is much more than bones and stone tools. Throughout the exhibit there is a collection of historic graphic artifacts that relates historic material culture to what we call art.
The Museum of Anthropology is in the position to provide a comparative analysis of just how dramatically art has been influenced by centuries of traditional works of tribal art and craft.
As an American Indian, Lawrence resident and a patron of the art show, I resent the way which Gilgore attempts to bash something of which she obviously knows little about. Gilgore fails to recognize the positive contributions that the Lawrence Indian Arts Show and the Museum of Anthropology have made to the community in promoting cultural awareness and addressing the tribal arts role in modern society.
In conclusion, regarding Gilgore's attempt to question the quality of the Museum of Anthropology's permanent exhibit by using the phrase "out of line," I may however suggest that it was her lack of perspective.
David Wade Lawrence graduate student
David Wade
Put faults in perspective
I admit to being somewhat racist, sexist, intolerant of homosexuality and religiously biased I also admit to liking what selfish, cruel, laugend and greedy.
How many of us could honestly say otherwise? These faults are deeply rooted in human nature itself, as are our virtues.
The issue, with regard to recent incidi-
ents that have reportedly occurred at
KU such as ethnic slurs, sexual
violence and other forms of harm,
whether such things are harmful. If
they have, in fact, occurred, they certainly are harmful, both to the individuals involved and to the University in general. Rather, the issue is how to deal with human nature and human weakness in a way that improves rather than worsens the situation.
The KU community, and perhaps the country in general, seems intent on fighting intolerance and bias with ever greater doses of intolerance, and on slighting or ignoring due process in the pursuit of justice. This strategy is certain to fail in the long run; however, in the short run, it may produce an uneasy quiet. Prohibition and punishment may deter some undesirable behavior, but they cannot by themselves produce much positive change.
Isn't it time, instead, to take a more realistic view of ourselves, to keep our failings in perspective and to recognize that we are more likely to promote tolerance and fairness if we behave tolerantly and fairly and with kindness? The faults mentioned above, after all, are faults precisely because people — hurt their feelings and make their lives sadder and more difficult. It is only by acting in a way that encourages sympathy and understanding, which in turn enables us to sense, even for a moment, how a single individual is being hurt, that any real improvement is likely to occur.
Mike Castro Third year law student
'Wolves' not raciallybiased
I remain baffled as to why Lorraine Jessepe bothered to include the statement that "Dances With Wolves" is not at all a movie about American Indians. It is, rather, another story about a white man discovering Indians. The rest of her points seem irrelevant if "Dances" is not an "Indian movie." Looking beyond the "white man playing Indian" abstraction, it is a story about learning and understanding, people from different cultures overcoming fears, prejudices and misconceptions they have of one another.
If Jessepe feels that Lt. Dunbark's observations about the Indian's devotion to community and family are debating and state the obvious, it could be she must understand that contrary notions were rare and absurd even in the last century. Meanwhile, she has conveniently overlooked the contemptuous attitude of the Indians to whites and Wind In His Hair's superiority complex. "What a man he is, is no Sloth, and makes him less." I sure I'm such a bigod and racist remark from Lt. Dunbark would have had the entire American Indian community condemning Costner.
If whites were omitted from the film, it would indeed be a "real" Indian story, but nothing more. Like "Windwalker," it would simply be a story of "good" Indians fighting "bad" Indians and ethnic diversity would be lost.
I fail to see how one gets a message of white superiority from a character who is disillusioned with his own culture that he abandons it in favor of a culture completely alien to him. Mary McDonnell's character, Stands With Fist, is also held up as an icon of white superiority by Jessepe. The only reason I have been able to see for the presidents of familiar "dickens" when woman was so that Lt. Dunbarton would have someone to communicate with in English, thus saving the viewer from having to read subtilties throughout the movie.
Maybe Jessepe would have preferred that the movie sacrifice the use of the Indians' native language and, for the sake of simplicity, had the Indians speak English with and occasional "How! Hight!" thrown in. I'm sorry if the efforts to achieve realism in "Dances" offends Jessepe.
Despite the attempts by some to undermine their efforts, everyone involved in the making of "Dances With Wolves" deserves praise for taking stries to promote the acceptance of universal human nature.
David Seymour Tonganoxie junior
KANSANSTAFF
HOLLY LAWTON
Editor
JENNIFERREYNOLDS Managing editor
TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser
Editors
Editors
News Erik Schutz
Editorial Karen Park
Planning Sarah Davis
Golf Jimi Corsak
Sports Mike Andrews
Photo Mike Andrews
Features Tiffany Harness
Graphics Melissa Unterberg
KATIE STADER Business manager
RICH HARSHBARGER Retail sales manager
JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser
business staff
Campus sales mgrs Brian Bryant
Regional sales mgr Jennifer Claxton
National sales mgr David McWilhane
Co-op sales mgr Lia Keeler
Production mgrs Jay Steiner, Wendy Stertz
Marketing director Mike Behee
Creative director David Behee
Classified mgr Jennifer Jaquinot
Business Staff
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