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University Daily Kansan/Tuesday, October 1, 1991
OPINION
Domestic violence
Silence should end for victims, bystanders
Glass shatters. A series of thudding sounds are heard. Then the screaming escalates. As the horror of domestic violence permeates the walls of your apartment complex or home, distressing questions sweep your mind.
Should the police be called? Would it be better to interfere, or should it just be ignored?
The answers to these questions will not be the same for every situation, but domestic violence should never be ignored. If it is possible to intervene without endangering yourself, and if
instincts tell you get involved, then doso,
but with tact and caution. But in most situations,
it would be better to limit your involvement and instead call the police or trained professionals.
Whether you are a victim or a concerned individual, there are many ways to help end the violence.
Here are some of the places where help and advice can be obtained :
Headquarters, Inc., 1419 Massachusetts St.
Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center, 118 Strong Hall
Rape Victim Support Service, 1419 Massachusetts St.
- Women's Transitional Care Services,
24-hour crisis line, 841-6887
The most important thing for those personally involved with violence to know is that a victim will remain a victim only as long as the violence is allowed to occur. Silence only condones violence.
Amy Francis and Jennifer Tanous for the editorial board
Iran-contra affair
Justice has not been served to guilty parties
Back in 1986, when the Iran-contra affair and its hidden aspects started to surface to the American people and to the world, Oliver North, one of the key components of criminal accusation, was considered a hero of sorts
On Sept. 16, 1991, after several years of court hearings and bureaucratic red tape on the part of the Reagan and Bush administrations, all charges against North were dismissed. President Bush responded to this decision as if justice had been served and the American court system had in a sense worked for
the common man.
The only thing that may have been accomplished is the reinforcement that the richer and more powerful a person is, the more legal barriers he can circumvent to work for personal gain, adding to the demise of American legal fiber.
A more alarming fact is that a crime has been committed against the American people and that by some mad act of circumstance, no one is guilty, and the suspects are either deceased as in the case of William Casey, dismissed like
Oliver North or given immunity from testifying in any court. Why is that?
Congress should look into the notion that somebody has to be guilty or come to the decision that there was not a crime committed. How can the judicial body hearing the Iran-contra affair be so dense in not recognizing the corrupt antics of the Reagan administration. Who is being protected? Certainly not us, the voting tax paying population. Someone has to be found guilty.
Frank Williams for the editorial board
Editorials reflect the opinion of the University Daily Kansan editorial board. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the board.
Opinions expressed in guest and staff columns and cartoons are solely those of the author or artist. Views expressed in columns and cartoons are not necessarily shared by the Kansan.
Editorial board members are: Benjamin Allen, Anita Bajaj, Kevin Bartels, James Baucom, Michael Dick, Amy Francis, Clarissa Jackson, Dan Janousek, Ellen Kuwana, Holly Lawton, Holly Neuman, Karen Park, Jennifer Reynolds, Jennifer Tanous, Jose Vasquez, Julie Wasson and Frank Williams.
LETTERS to the EDITOR
Baucom quote not complete
I am the executive secretary of Student Senate. First off, I would like to tell you part of my job description. Along with clipping newspapers, answering phones, sending correspondence and keeping our illustrious senators in check, I take the minutes at each and every Senate meeting. For those of you who don't know, that is how I work. I have said at the meeting. Now, what does that have to do with the price of tea in China you ask? Well. I tell you.
Let me first say that I am so tired of everyone jumping on James Baucom's back! In the Sept. 12 issue of the Kansan, James was misquoted or
should I say "underquoted" by Blaine Kimrey, Kansan writer. He was quoted as saying, "It is not necessarily wrong at all times to hit a woman." Now this quote has sparked all types of confusion around campus. A student even wrote the editor sarcastically stating the Top Five reasons for hitting a woman. This is all madness, and I am here to officially set the record straight and clear up the matter. James' full sentence was, "It is not necessarily wrong at all times to hit a woman when you are defending your explanatory. I do have to wonder why the sentence wasn't completed. Just a little something to make you say, 'Hummm.'"
However, for those who you truly want to know what is said in Senate, COME TO SENATE! If you find, however, that you would rather read about the news instead of participating in the news, come by the Senate office and sit down at the minutes from a particular meeting. Look forward to see you!
Toi Williams
Executive secretary
Student Senate
Got a job interview? Avoid the questions
I can relate to Clarence Thomas. We
work with a common dealing with
stupid question words.
I realized that the other day when I was listening to the confirmation hearings. Sen. Herb Kohl was getting the show underway, making a few jokes and loosening everyone up. It sounded like the beginning of a typical job interview.
Then it happened. The question from left field.
"Judge Thomas, why do you want to be a Supreme Court Justice? Why do you want to be?"
I get killed on these types of questions. I always study the other stuff, such as how to dress, how to shake hands, not to offer too much information
I think Thomas concentrated on these things too.
Plus, the answer to these kinds of questions always sounds like a bunch of bunk. Tou noble. Too serious.
Thomas did OK, however. But it was evidence that he was guard against because there was silence for about 10 seconds before he said His answer went something like this:
"Well, to serve on the Supreme Court is the highest honor a judge can attain blindingly."
It was the standard, safe answer. But it would have been nice to hear him say, "Are you kidding? First there's the job security. I mean I'm on the
Joe
Gose
Staff
columnist
bench for life, baby. And then there are the benefits. Federal holidays. Federal sick-leave. Federal vacation. I mean come on! What kind of question
I have that urge when a prospective employer asks me why I want a job.
"Because I need money, because I've been in the school for seven years and owe the government big-time and get something out of that education."
That is what I would like to say. Usually I end up saying, "Well, I think I could be real a asset to the company and would use my talents and education blahbady blahbady blah blah blah."
My dream is to have an interview like that of George Washington.
"George, do you want to be President?"
"Good. You got it."
Now that is what I call a job interview.
Joe Gose is a Prairie Village graduate student in journalism.
Rental car companies' age requirements absurd
Summer is over, but memories from the family vacation still lurk fresh in my mind — hours spent road-tripping, too much togetherness; we all know the scene. This trip, at least, Dad rented a van to accommodate all our camping gear.
My older brother and I had decided to do most of the driving, so we accompanied my dad to KCI to pick up the van. But the car people told me I couldn't drive. I wasn't 12 years old. This amazes me. I could be married, have five kids, and not be able to rent a car?
This bothered me so much that I decided to investigate upon returning home. After fascinating discussions with Hertz and Avis representatives, I discovered there are ways around this age requirement, which is set by individual companies. Soit varies for each city and company. For example, California's age requirement is 25 regardless, because the traffic is terrible.
But in places such as Kansas City, Mo., or Overland Park, Kan., if one
Ellen Kuwana Staff columnist
has a major credit card, the age requirement is only 18 — as if plastic ensures responsibility. As another example, Triple A members only have to be 21 years old. It turns out there were exceptions which I could have used. I could have driven the luxurious rental van, despite my meager 22 years.
But the rental people will not readily offer this information. The nice lady at Herz said there were too many exceptions to list, so just go in and ask. I wish I had known.
Ellen Kuwana is a Lawrence senior majoring in organismal biology.
KANSANSTAFF
HOLLY LAWTON
Editor
JENNIFER REYNOLDS Managing editor
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
Editors
News Erik Schutz
Editorial Karan Karee
Planning Sarah Davis
Course Eric Gornall
Sports Mike Andrews
Photo Brian Schoenell
Features Tiffany Harness
Graphics Melissa Unterberg
KATIE STADER Business manager
RICHHARSHBARGER Retail sales manager
Business Staff
JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser
Campus sales mgr
Business Staff
Lewis Bryant
Regional sales mgr
Jeffrey Claxton
National sales mgr...David Mcilwaine
Co-op sales mgr
Ike Kaeker
Production mgrs ...Jay Steiner,
Wendy Stertz
Marketing director...Mike Behee
Creative director...Mary Jones
Classified mgr ...Jennifer Jacquoin
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