4 University Daily Kansan/Friday, October 18, 1991 OPINION Homecoming parade Move to campus is the right decision The homecoming parade is an integral and exciting part of Homecoming Weekend tradition. A homecoming parade? KU has a parade? Although it occurs each year, many students do not know that the University of Kansas does indeed sponsor a homecoming parade. Consequently, many students have not taken advantage of the event. Part of the reason stems from the timing and route of past parades. They traditionally have taken place early Saturday mornings on Massachusetts Street during Homecoming Weekend. The downtown parade has caused many students, particularly underclassmen, to not associate the event with the University. Some students have not attended the parade because they have staved out late the night before. This afternoon, KU tradition is being changed for the better. From 2:20 to 2:50 p.m., students can watch the parade on campus. It will begin at Joseph R. Pearson Hall on West Campus Road and move south to the Chi Omega fountain, where it will turn onto Jayhawk Boulevard. Football players and coaches will speak in front of Wescoe Hall, and floats also will be judged there. The parade will end at the Adams Alumni Center. Moving the homecoming parade to campus is a positive change that will increase student, faculty and alumni interaction this weekend. First, more of the University community will participate because the parade is at a more convenient time and is more accessible to the student body. As a result, increased participation in the parade will generate even more excitement and support for the Kansas football team when it plays Iowa State tomorrow. And, since the parade is on campus, the event and KU's homecoming will be synonymous. The expected high attendance at the parade today will send a loud signal that the KU community has a rich tradition of school pride and spirit that has come to epitomize the Jayhawks and the University of Kansas. Anita Bajaj for the editorial board Citizenship for sale The U.S. is the world example of capitalism People in the United States are always complaining about the way their country is being sold piecemeal to foreign investors. Look at Rockefeller Center in New York City, some say, what could be more American than that? And the Japanese own it. The cars of choice are German. Computer parts are made in places like Taiwan. But that's life in a free-market economy, eh? Besides, those countries are contributing jobs and money to the United States as well as to their own countries. As the world example of capitalism, it may sometimes seem that everything in the United States is for sale, rent or available on a convenient lavay plan with easy terms. While we are on the subject of sales, here's one that may be headed your way. If you know anyone living in Hong Kong, or any other country which features or will soon feature a repressive, brutal dictatorship, you may want to let them know about this deal. For a trifling $1 million investment, they can become a U.S. citizen. That's right. They can have all the privileges of being a citizen of the U.S. of A.I. For $1 million, they too can live in places like Kalamazoo and Podunk, have their MTV and vote for inept government officials. This proposal is modeled after a similar program in Canada and would be added to the regular immigrant quota for each year. Each immigrant issued an investor visa would be required to invest a minimum of $1 million in a business that would provide 10 jobs for U.S. workers Lawmakers have not said much, though, on the rumored proposal that would complement the investor visa proposal. The newer proposal would involve slightly altering the plaque on the Statue of Liberty; you know, the "tired, poor and huddled masses" one? They want to change the plaque to something, well, more American. Instead of "huddled masses," it would read something like, "Give meyour Gucci-clad and Armani-wearing celebs, yearning to breathe free, or at least inexpensively." Kevin Bartels for the editorial board LETTERS to the EDITOR Lack of Arabic unfair at KU I am writing in response to Jennifer Bach's article, "KU accommodates students pursuing diverse languages," in the University Daily Kansan on Oct. 11. The University of Kansas does NOT accommodate students trying to learn diverse languages at this institution. In particular, I am referring to the language that KU refuses to finance — Arabic. I was enrolled in this language class my first year at KU. I was interested in studying it for personal reasons and to further my studies in political science, with an emphasis on Middle Eastern cultures. For the liberal arts requirement, four semesters of a language are required. In the second semester of the class we learned that it would no longer be offered. Students in my class petitioned for the class to be taught another academic year so those of us who needed the language for our requirements and degrees would be able to finish the language we started. Then we learned that when it WAS offered, it was not financed by the University. The class had previously been financed by the Saudi Arabian government. Why does KU not finance this important world language that is one of the five languages of the United Nations? The class has not been offered since 1990, even though there is interest from the students who need it for their majors. I would like to continue studying it, but it is not offered anywhere near here. It is very important to my major, but I will not be able to study it because of the University's and the linguistics department's apathy toward the matter. Then, in this same edition of the Kansan, I read that KU is going to help advise and assist high school students learn Arabic in some educational center in Shawne Mission, which I am sure will be financed through our (the students)' money. What is the logic in this? These high school students will NOT be able to study at this University. KU will offer help it to high school students but not to its own students who demand it on this campus. What will we have to do to get a class that we need and is clearly sought after? Go back to the Saudis for the money? I am sure the students in Hausa and Scandinavian language classes do not have to go begging for money from outsiders to get their classes financed. Lorie Williams Lawrence junior Hockey club stiffed by University politics As president of the KU ice hockey club the past two years, I've been exposed to many of the policies and procedures at the University of Kansas. Some recent events have left me with serious doubts about the manner in which this institution bases its decisions and policies. I am sure many of you observed the commotion Tuesday in front Stauffer-Flint Hall. The group that occupied the space was a company out of Colorado called Sport-Paik, a ski and bicycle equipment establishment. Last week, the University Events Committee approved a request by the hockey club to sponsor this group. A percentage of gross sales would go to our organization. We found it an excellent opportunity to generate some much-needed money, since KU does not finance any sport clubs for travel purposes. The group was told yesterday that it had to pack up its ski jackets, pants and suits because clothing could not be sold on campus. From what I understand, clothing can be sold on campus if it is first approved by the KU Bookstore, which has the exclusive rights to clothing sales on campus. That's all unkindly, but as some of my skiking friends will tell you, one doesn't ski in a pair of boxers and a T-shirt, at least not where I come from. I doubt anyone on campus could find anything in the bookstore that resembles any of the clothing displayed by Sport-Pak. Many of the logistics of the company's set-up also were criticized. I would like to point out that at virtually all of the universities in this part of the country that this group travels to (many Big Eight Conference schools) and that Paul is able work out of ballrooms in student unions. KU does not allow that. It's outside or it's out of here. I have some problems with that. If the University is going to support its student organizations, I would hope that it would be able to work with organizations to provide them with an opportunity to take advantage of a situation such as the hockey club has At no time between the Tuesday that Sport-Pak arrived and yesterday afternoon when they packed up did any representative of the University have a chance to meet with the set-up of the group could be ironed on. I find that disappointing Jake Anderson Guest columnist and frustrating. I understand that there were some questions about details of how the sale would be conducted, but if the events committee is going to pull the plum on something that was already approved then what should be done? What type is getting the approval the bookstore to sell clothing on campus. At least give me the chance to go speak to the bookstore before calling the whole thing off. The potential for my organization to raise money from this fundraiser was enormous, but because of good 'ol University policies, I watched it drive away yesterday. This won't be the last time that I, or other representatives of organizations, will have a hard time dealing with some aspect of University policies, but I can't wait to see the day when some type of flexibility is given to student organizations by KU. No situation is ever perfect, but at this University if it isn't up to this rule or that regulation, the roof will fall in. I make my best effort to adhere to the rules of the game here at KU, but if the University isn't willing to work with organizations in precarious situations, as was presented here this week, then I'd rather not make any effort to help my club progress because it will not be worth dealing with the University. For those who enjoyed seeing something different here this week, I hope to bring this group back to KU at some point during the year. There were obviously many interested, based on the amount of people who took time out to browse through the merchandise. Then again, they may not want to come back here and deal with the hassles at KU. Can you blame them? ■ Jake Anderson is an Owatonna, Minn. junior majoring in political science and e- conomics. KANSAN STAFF HOLLY LAWTON Editor JENNIFER REYNOLDS Managing editor TOM EBLEN General manager,news adviser Editors News .. Erik Schutz Editorial .. Karen Park Planning .. Sarah Davis Campus .. Eric Gorski 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 Sales manager Jennifer Claxton National sales mgrs David McWallene Co-op sales mgrs Jay Keeler Production mgrs Jay Steiner, Marketing director Wendy Sturtz Creative director David Haligar Classified mgrs Jennifer Jacqunot Letters should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 200 words. They must include the writer's name, address, name 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 700 words. The writer will be pho- The Kansan reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest column and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansan newroom, 111 Stairwater-Fint Hall. Last Hurrahs AFTER A Few MINUTES OF MINDLESS SMALL TALK, SUGGEST THE RELATIONSHIP MOVE ONTO A HIGHER PLANE. WHAT SAY WE GO BACK TO MY PLACE AND PLAY CONNECTS THE DOTS WITH THE PINPLES ON MY BACK? by Mike Romane