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University Daily Kansan/Friday, September 27, 1991
OPINION
Disabled access
More bicycle racks would clear ramps
Cyclists who block disabled students' access to buildings on campus by locking their bicycles to railings along ramps should not be tolerated.
In September 1990, KU police removed and impounded bicycles blocking a ramp south of Marvin Hall. A year later no policy about bicycles locked to railings has been enacted, and the problem is here again as cyclists swarm onto campus every day.
Cars receive a $50 minimum fine for parking in handicapped parking spots, but bicycle riders can park their bikes anywhere at will. Enforcing handicapped parking rules while at the same time allowing bicycles to block handicapped access is hypocritical.
To cut the locks and impound bicycles in these areas is an appropriate action for the University to take, but it does not solve the problem. It only treats the symptom. The cyclists who lock their bikes in these areas are not doing it deliberately to block the ramps. They simply cannot find a spot to lock their bicycles.
The solution is to build more bike racks. It would be far cheaper than putting in a new parking lot. Of course there will be the usual, "Where do we get money?"
handicapped access, the lock should be cut and the bike impounded. If cyclists want the bikes back, they should have to pay a fine, perhaps $10.
One solution is to get the money from the cyclists. Each time a cyclist blocks
The fine then could be put into an account exclusively for buying new bicycle racks. After a year or two, the bike racks could be used instead of accessramps.
If a policy is enacted soon, the problem of too few bicycle racks on campus, should be solved. Once that problem is solved, the problem of cyclists blocking access for disabled students will disappear.
Benjamin Allen for the editorial board
Middle East peace
Palestine should be represented in talks
The time is now.
Since 1948, the ongoing problems between several Arab countries and Israel have escalated. Although it is easy to take sides and refuse to learn about the reasoning of the other, at some time a compromise can be reached.
The time is now for compromise. Any efforts at achieving peace in the region will be curtailed if the United Nations succumbs to Israel's provision to exclude the Palestinian Liberation Organization from the Middle East peace conference.
The PLO said Monday that the Palestine National Council, or Palestinian parliament-in-exile, should represent its cause at the peace conference,
despite 250,000 Palestinians who signed a petition insisting that the PLO be directly represented.
It seems, however, that the general consensus of U.N. members coincides with the American proposals for the peace conference, that Palestinian delegates must be acceptable to Israel and come only from the West Bank and Gaza Strip. These Palestinians would serve in a joint delegation with Jordan and not as an autonomous political unit.
The Palestinians no longer need to be kept under close watch, and certainly, they don't deserve to be treated like children.
"in all its forms." Today, President Bush should continue pressuring Israel to accept and to work with its neighbors and all parties concerned. Bush's request that Congress delay the question of loan guarantees to Israel is such pressure.
In 1988, the PLO accepted Israel as legitimate and condemned terrorism
Regardless of Israel's obstinance concerning the presence of the PLO at next month's peace conference, the Palestinians will be represented and their cause will be heard. The time has come for such small justice.
Jennifer Tancus for the editorial board
KANSAN STAFF
HOLLY LAWTON
Editor
TOMEBLEN
General manager, news adviser
JENNIFERREYNOLDS Managing editor
TOMEBLEN
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Thomas Steele Lawrence resident
Letters should be double, spaced and fewer than 290 words. They must include the writer's name, the title of the course, the date, the instructor's name, the must include class and hometown, or faculty or staff designation. There are also 1000 words. The writer will list his/her contact information.
The Kanaan reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kanaan newroom, 111 Sausffer Fint Hall.
torgraphed.
The Kansan reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be
In his editorial, Dan also assumes that he is the only one who needs a book, which I know from experience is not the case. He is also assuming that the person who has the book is not using it. Dan also makes no mention of the current budget crunch that has the library understaffed and underpaid. The next time you submit something for the editorial board I suggest you not wait until the last minute to write it, like you obviously do on your other research papers.
Guest columnar should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be photographed.
Loco Locals
LETTERS to the EDITOR
However, I am convinced that upon hearing Dan's suggestion the library will most certainly adopt this new system which is really just another excuse for laziness. It does not take Lewis and Clark to find the library and it by no means asking too much to have the books returned there.
Ability to teach qualifies GTAs
Dwain Desbien
Topeka graduate student
Book return lacks realism
I am responding to Dan Janousek's book Sept. 24 editorial concerning book drop-off boxes. Mr. Janousek apparently has a problem with the current library system. To alleviate his problem, Dan has proposed a book drop-off box, which Dan obviously has not researched. There are many disadvantages to the plan, including confusion over whether a book placed in the drop-off box is returned that night or the next day when the library picks up the book. This confusion could result in a fines problem for library patrons.
As a graduate teaching assistant, I found a few things puzzling in the Sept. 24 article on the "Best graduate students and GTAs." First, I would like to state that I agree that KU's GTA sticks are not comparable to those of our peer institutions. I would also like to state that KU was not the best financial offer I received when looking at graduate schools. With that in mind, I now address my concerns with this article.
I have taken the graduate record exam and there was not one question on it that would determine whether or not I would be a good GTA. The GRE tests one's grasps of his or her field of study. It in no way is a measure of how well one can communicate that knowledge to others and that is what being a GTA or professor is all about.
In conclusion, I would like to ask whose place it is to determine who is a good GTA? Should it not be those who are being taught? They are the ones who know if they learned anything and if the instructor was helpful. They are the ones I want to determine if I am a good GTA.
Another problem I had with this article is its emphasis on grades as a criteria for being a good GTA. Like the GRE, good grades do not mean the ability to be a good teacher. This criterion does not allow for all the other activities that present themselves at colleges and universities, such as athletics, clubs, student government and the list goes on. Being active in these might not allow the time for maintaining an 'outstanding grade point average," but might make one a more well-rounded person.
MICHAUD © 1991
HOW DO ROCK STARS CREATE THIS HYSTERIA... ESPECIALLY THose that look like THE LINET stuff YOU pick out of YOUR BEAUTY BUTTON...
Latin American group is varied
This letter is in response to Ricardo Olea's letter in the Sept. 18 edition of the Kansan. As a matter of clarification, Latin American Solidarity is a campus group made up of individual opinions. No one member makes statements for the entire group unless s/he has been given the go-ahead after consulting with the group.
If you had actually attended the program discussed in the Kanan of Sept. 13, you would have recognized the diverse nature of Latin American Solidarity's membership.
As a side note, the reality is that the horrible acts occurring in El Salvador have gone on longer than Hitler led Germany. Further, these actions have been supported with U.S. dollars and arms.
For the record, Latin American Solidarity has no political agenda. Our objectives are to inform, educate and otherwise enlighten the community on matters pertaining to Latin America and to raise funds for contribution to humanitarian causes in Latin America as was stated in the article.
We welcome diverse opinions at our Rice and Beans dinners and educational programs. I invite you to attend our next program on Oct. 10 and see for yourself what we are all about.
Mary J. Rose-Shaffer Co-coordinator, Latin American Solidarity
Senate rules should change
In the mids of the recent Darren Fulcher uproar perhaps it is time to look at the University's election procedures.
In order to run for national office, a candidate must not have a criminal record. If the University Senate is to in any way prepare members for future elected positions it would be wise to adopt the same requirements.
I propose a change to the Senate regulations stipulating that in order for an individual to be considered eligible to run for any senate office they should be required to provide information on any past criminal convictions. This would avoid the possibility of another situation such as the Fulcher incident from occurring again. In addition, if the elections it is found that an individual did in fact have a criminal record this proposal would allow for immediate dismissal based on noncompliance with the Senate regulations concerning eligibility for office.
Bruce Reeves Lawrence junior
In this article you refer to pro-lifers as anti-abortionists and then you refer to the other side as pro-choice. To give the article an unbiased position, you must refer to both as pro-life and pro-choice, or as anti-abortion and anti-life. When you give one side a negative connotation, such as the term "anti" and the other side as "pro" shows opinion. Opinions need to be left on the editorial page.
Groups' labels expose bias
Once again the Kansan has shown unbiased favoritism. This pertains to the article in the Kansan on Sept. 18, "Pro-choice coalition, protesters clash at Union."
Asa pro-lifer, and a woman, I urge you to give an unbiased account of the news. Do not let your staff writers show their emotions in the news articles. Save it for editorials.
Valerie DeHaven
Topeka freshman
by Tom Michaud