4 University Daily Kansan/Wednesday, October 2, 1991 OPINION Graduate students KU, state must cooperate to help GTAs Graduate teaching assistants at the University of Kansas do not receive the benefits that they deserve. The fault lies not with the University but with the Legislature. Last year when presented with the University's budget, which advocated an 80-percent fee waiver for GTAs, the Legislature did not provide the money. Instead, KU was forced to waive graduate teaching assistant fees by only 75 percent. This means that the University cannot remain competitive with the many out-of-state institutions that provide GTAs with better financial assistance. KU cannot even keep up with peer institutions such as the University of Iowa, which has a 100-percent fee waiver for all GTAs. Ruth Hillers, assistant director of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has said that about 100 of the top graduate students and GTAs admitted to KU each year choose to attend other schools. As the University continues to push for increases in benefits for GTAs, we as students can assist by contacting local political officials whom we elected to represent us. It is the students' as well as the University's responsibility to continue to push the Legislature for better GTA benefits. For KU to provide the best possible education to its students, it is necessary for the state of Kansas to provide the money needed to attract the best educators. Jose Vasquez for the editorial board Gambling dispute Casino would be economic asset for tribe The Kickapoo nation hopes to begin construction on a Las Vegas-style casino on tribal lands next spring. Gov. Joan Finney quickly approved the idea after meeting with tribal representatives, but an agreement is still in the works. But opposition to the casino, which would be about six miles east of Horton and 80 miles northeast of Lawrence, arose quickly. In a hand-delivered letter, the Rev. Richard Taylor, president of the organization, told the governor that gambling was not an economic development. The group Kansans for Life in Its Best, the largest temperance and anti-gambling organization in the state, criticized Finney for supporting gambling. "For a gambling enterprise to be suc cessful, a lot of people must lose a lot of money," he wrote. In a separate letter to tribal representative Steve Cadue, Taylor said that Atlantic City, which allows casino-style gambling, was an economic disaster. "The poor are poorer, crime has skyrocketed, and some casinos are bankrupt," he said. "Concerned citizens do not want an Atlantic City in Kansas." Construction alone could provide 200 to 300 new jobs during its initial period of operation. But the Kickapoo tribe has long suffered from economic hardships. The current unemployment rate on the reservation is 50 percent. Profits generated by the casino would be used to finance tribal government, road and bridge construction on the reservation, a medical and dental clinic, the tribal court and a scholarship fund. The state also would benefit from the increased number of people traveling to the casino, which tribal leaders hope will draw customers from Omaha, Neb. St. Louis and Chicago. Although gambling operations such as casinos and state lotteries have never been cure-alls for economic shortcomings, they are a way to attract new funds and pay for programs that otherwise would be underfinanced or lost all together. A casinoon Kickapoo lands would help provide the tribe with services that many of us consider necessities and basic needs of life, services that have long been denied because of the lack of economic resources. Jennifer Reynolds for the editorial board. LETTERS to the EDITOR Kevin Bartels, James Baucom, Michael Dick, Amy Francis, Clarissa Jackson, Dan Janousek, Elen Kuwana, Holly Lawton, Holly Neuman, John Noltensmeyer Karen Park, Jennifer Reynolds, Jennifer Tanous, Jose Vasquez, Julie Wasson and Frank Williams. Editorials reflect the opinion of the University Daily Kansan editorial board. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the board. Cartoon is unfair criticim Stan Thorne's Sept. 27 cartoon disparaging the staff and system of Watson Library is neither very fair nor very funny. The people on staff at Watson, especially the reference librarians, are among the most helpful on earth. With such excellent people assisting, the system works quite well, no maze at all. KU police must obey laws,too Brenton Elmore Lawrence senior Friday, while walking on campus, I was almost struck by a bicyclist. I would have thought nothing of the incident, but the bicyclist was a police officer. I also observed that he was not in pursuit. In my opinion, police officers on bicycles are a great concept. Many communities and countries have used this concept for years. But Friday, I became totally infuriated by the double standards of KU police. At approximately this same time last year, I was riding my bicycle on campus, on a deserted sidewalk, in order to get from a bike rack to the street. I was pulled over and issued a $15 ticket for riding on the sidewalk. The officer on the bike knew he was violating the law, and that type of behavior is unacceptable. I hope KU police will respond to this letter by reminding its officers that they have pledged to obey the laws that they enforce. University puts money first David Charlson Lawrence graduate student Who, at the University of Kansas, is not dismayed to learn that the hallmark of our particular University has been sold out to other schools, thus rendering what was unique to us, colorful. It was done for certain sums of money. Who, at the University of Kansas, is not taken aback by the opening statement by the director of the Joyce and Elizabeth Hall Center for the Humanities on page one of the "Hall Center Communicue" (Fall 1991), which was distributed at the recent spirited Humanities Lecture by one of our own faculty members. "At the University of Kansas, we have educational institutions throughout the country, academics have been pushed to defensive postures and attitudes." Defensive postures and attitudes belong in stadia and are illegitimate within the academic precinct of an acropolis, such as Mount Oread. Since the state of Kansas seems loath to fit their properly its flagship institution, and considering that Columbia pictures has recently become Sony pictures, why not sell the University to another country or city, say Kenya or Kiev, or to Kyoto, where, for many hours of each day, it would already be tomorrow. This would allow KU to regain lost rectitude and thus eliminate defensive postures and attitudes. After all, the bottom line for hard-liners is always money (others might see it as a curvaceous Aristophantic relationship between clouds), and KU has already sold away its unique symbol, the Jayhawk. Don't ignore natural law J. Theodore Johnson Jr. Professor of French Opinions expressed in guest and staff columns and cartoon are solely those of the author or artist. Professor of French An official with deciding power in wartime Germany sent Jews to the gas chamber. The people said nothing. He did not break any written law under which this population (as a people) lived. The same official was caught by law and punished for shoplifting a package of meat. The people rose and wanted him removed from office for this offense of written fraud. He then killed them and condemn him for gassing Jews. They were very sensitive to written law to condemn him for shoplifting. It was a very sick person. T.S. David Lawrence graduate student Assick are KU students. Both the sides, for and against the student body president's staying in office, debate his offenses of written laws: the battery and putting unauthorized hours on a Salvation Army time card. Not one voice is raised over the boyfriend-girlfriend issue, from which the battery stemmed. They had been girlfriend and boyfriend for two years. Then they broke up. Who broke up? This is of far greater moral laxity than batter and falsifying a time card. This is not an offense of written law, as are batter and falsifying a time card. It is a crime against natural law. If the girl had dropped the president, he was a helpless victim. He is then honorable to represent KU students, his offenses of written law being much smaller than this bigger uprightness before natural law. But if she dropped this girl, he is unworthy to represent KU, not so much because of the battery and the time card, but far more for dropping the girl. Thomas is an ideal choice It is very sick to be debating the smaller offenses before written law and ignoring the vast moral issue before natural law. The Kansan's disapproval of Clarence Thomas' nomination to the Supreme Court is both thoughtless and unjustified, and it demonstrates the Kansan's obvious political bias. By focusing only on how Thomas was chosen, the Kansan has failed to examine Thomas' experience and how that experience will affect the decisions of our nation's highest court. It is the position of this board that Thomas's background and long struggle for success make him an ideal replacement for Justice Marshall. Indeed, Thomas had to deal with many of the same barriers that Marshall overcame. Margaret Bush Wilhill directed the board of directors of the NAACP from 1975 to 1984, offering this statement in defense of Thomas' character. - "Judge Thomas reflects the diversity and complexity of African-American thinking, but his views are not nearly so radical as his critics suggest. 'Torise above the dual curses of poverty and discrimination requires tremendous individual effort from a certain kind of person.' Throughout the history of the U.S. Supreme Court, I don't believe any other nominee can claim to have come so far. Judge Thomas' unique perspective belongs Clarence Thomas is undeniably an independent thinker, and whether or not he succeeds in becoming associate justice, his nomination has already succeeded in debunking the myth that he once voiced for the African-American candidate. President Bush's nomination and await Thomas' assured confirmation. Bob Schaffer Chairman, KU College Republican Policy Board Editorial board members are: Benjamin Allen, Anita Baja). KANSAN STAFF HOLLY LAWTON Editor JENNIFERREYNOLDS Managing editor TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser Editors Editors News Erik Schutz Editorial Karen Park Planning Sarah Davis Campus Eric Goreki Sports Mike Andrews Photo Brian Schooni Features Tiffany Harness Graphics Melissa Unterberg KATIE STADER Business manager Business Staff Campus sales mgr Leonny Breman Regional sales mgr Jennifer Claxton National sales mgr David McWilhane Co-op sales mgr LaKeer Lee Production mgr Jay Steiner, Wendy Sters Marketing director Creative director David Halberger Classified mgr Jennifer Jacquoint RICH HARSHBARGER Retail sales manager Business Staff JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser Letters should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 300 words. They must include the writer's name, address, title, and contact information with the University of Kansas must include class and homeschool, or faculty or staff position. The college should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 300 words. The writer will be photocopied. The Kanser reserves the right to write letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be sent to the office at 618-249-7101. Last Hurrahs LISTEN STU, GAR AND I THINK THAT CERTAIN DAYTIME PROGRAMMING IS UNHEALTHY FOR YOU. byMike Romane