4 University Daily Kansan / Friday, September 20, 1991 OPINION Future of CIA Gates not the answer to CIA's problems There is a feeling in the country today that it's acceptable for actives in government intelligence to play dirty. In fact, in light of Oliver North's recent acquittal, one gets the impression that an operative isn't doing his job unless he bends the law. Now that Robert Gates, William Casey's No.2 man, is primed to take the lead as head of the Central Intelligence Agency, we can rest assured that slight of hand and selective memory loss will continue. Robert Gates will be confirmed by the 15-member Senate Intelligence Committee sometime soon. This is a mistake. The CIA must and will rearrange its priorities, its budget and its overall mission in the coming years. How can we entrust these sweeping changes to be directed by a man who, by his own admission, acknowledges the mutual mistrust between the agency's analytical and clandestine operations. Clearly, one hand doesn't know what the other is doing — and doesn't care to know. Less to forget, don't you see? Robert Gates either did not know about the 1985-86 diversion of money from Iran arms sales to the Contras, or he is lying to the Senate. The man is either inexcusably ignorant or untrustworthy. But come to think of it, those are precisely the qualities one has come to expect from members of the "intelligence" community in the past. Based on past requirements, Gates is perfect. Based on the demands of the present and the challenges of the future, he needs to be denied confirmation. Don't bet on it. If a fresh face was put in charge of intelligence, operatives might have to take a course in memory retention. Now that would be memorable. Michael Dick for the editorial board Sexual assault at KU Program intends to increase awareness The Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center has always provided services for survivors of rape and attempted rape. This year a new program, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Program, is in place to increase awareness of sexual assault at KU. As Dr. Barbara Ballard, director of the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center, emphasized, the Center already has three qualified people to provide counseling to students. With the advent of the new program, one of these three, graduate assistant Joi Phelps, will have the main responsibilities of sexual assault counseling and educational programming. She will also plan outreach programs to various student organizations. The program is open the same hours as the Center: 8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. daily. After hours, calls to 864-3600 will be transferred to the Information Center, where the phone numbers of the Douglas County Rape Victim Support Service and Headquarters are given. In the future, KU students may be able to get involved in a volunteer capacity. By attending the Rape Victim Support Service's training program and then undergoing additional training by the Center's staff, these volunteers will be able to participate in outreach programs. The professionals at the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center have taken a noteworthy step toward increased education and counseling on sexual assault by creating a Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Program. 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. Ellen Kuwana for the editorial board Editorial board members are: Benjamin Allen, Kevin Bartles, 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, Pat Warren and Frank Williams. Guest columns and letters are welcomed by the editorial staff. LETTERS to the EDITOR ARF festival far from just a party I read Voice representative Dan McCloskey's opinion of the American Rights Festival. He states, "many of the people at the festival were there for the music and to smoke marijuana rather than for the politics." Granted this was a festival meant for people to enjoy, but he seems to have completely missed the positive response of the crowd toward the speakers and musicians. The information tent, which housed the various booths, including the political party, was crowded most of the day. Many people took the time to read the educational material and sign the petitions that were provided, such as the petition for public transportation, which received numerous signatures over the course of the weekend. He doesn't seem to realize the time and effort that are required to organize a festival whose sole purpose is to raise the awareness of the people in our community. If he did, I don't believe he would minimize the effectiveness under the understanding efforts of the ARF committee by only drawing attention to the festivities without giving proper credit to the sincerities of those who cared enough to come out, listen and learn about what these groups are doing to protect our American rights. Carol Roza Lawrence junior Center serves faculty first As one of the Associate Directors of KU'S Writing Center, I share Jose Vasquez's concern that the Writing Center turns away interested students. I'd be the first to admit that many KU students need help with their writing. International students, non-traditional students and educationally-disadvantaged students are heavily stressed by college level writing. What your readers should know is that the Writing Center was never designed to provide writing help to students. The Center was created specifically to help faculty from across the disciplines use writing as a tool for learning in their classrooms. KU's administrators hoped that by working with the faculty to encourage and improve students' writing, the Center would indirectly help a great number of students. This specific mission to serve faculty is not exclusively what forces us to turn students away. Our two tutors only work with students to help them meet our expectations for specific assignment, they don't help with remediation. Our tutors help a small number of students, but indirectly the Center reaches hundreds through the assignments and materials we help develop in our courses. We presentations we give each semester on how to become a stronger writer. I know KU has thousands of students who may want or need help with their writing. I regret having to turn students away. When I do, I always explain why I must. I have encouraged students who were upset by our policy to speak to an administrator should have an open writing lab or learning center that offered walk-in help to all students. I encourage the *Kansan* and campus leaders to investigate students' writing needs and the services that could meet those needs. I also urge them to take a leadership role in bringing those services to KU's students. An additional student fee to support an open writing lab or student senate support to help support writing tutors might be two ideas to consider. Believe me, I would love to see all students get the writing help they need. Students should be able to walk into a learning center and hear, "Take a seat. Someone will be with you in a moment." Judith Galas Associate Director KU Writing Center Abortion debate could lead to another round of violence For enthusiastic anti-banionists this summer, all roads led to Wichita. After six weeks of all but uncontested demonstrations, Operation Rescue finally ran into resistance on those same roads when pro-choice advocates met them face to face. If the two sides take the same vigorous approach next summer as they did this summer, the roads that they take will lead to violence. Joe Gose Staff columnist Although September has brought an apparent end to the ordeal and quieter, peaceful times to Wichita, the main conflict is far from over. I'm not blaming the pro-choice advocates for the ensuing violence. Nor am I blaming anti-abortion advocates. But the nature of the arguments of each side makes violence inevitable. Awayward hunch? I do not think so. The action of the protesters more than reinforced DeWitt's claims. Not When I was reporting for a newspaper in Hays this summer, I had the privilege of writing a few stories on the abortion issue. One of the stories led me to Helen DeWitt, a vocal anti-abortion activist; Her words made me take notice. But it was her intensity that convinced me there would never be any compromise from the anti-abortion side. They believe, and will endlessly continue to believe against any scientific proof, that abortion is murder. Plain and simple. until this summer had so many people, including priests, laid down their freedom for what they believed — babies facing the death penalty. On the other hand, pro-choice advocates that I interviewed believe that the lost lives of desperate women killed in illegal abortion mills before the Roe vs. Wade decision should not be in vain. They also believe that what a woman does with her body is her business, and nobody else's. A pro-choice supporter that was quoted in a story in the Aug. 26 edition of the University Daily Kansan epitomized that side's resolve. According to the story, Justin Palmer, Lawrence freshman, and abortion foes became embroiled in a heated argument. "They were just yelling at me and kept it up when I wouldn't back down. Nothing can be accomplished that way." Palmer was reported saying. Think pro-choice advocates are willing to compromise? No way, Jose. ■ Joe Gose is a Prairie Village graduate student in journalism. 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Guest columns should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be phonetic. The Kansas reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansas newsroom, 111 Saucer-Flint Hall. Loco Locals WORD WHERE ARE MY KEYS??! IVE LOOKED EVERY WHERE! by Tom Michaud