4 University Daily Kansan/Wednesday, September 18, 1991 OPINION Student Senate Guidelines needed for removal of officials Since last week's Student Senate ouster of Darren Fulcher, senators and the student body have learned what chaos results when specific rules and regulations are not provided for the dismissal of elected officials. The Senate voted to expel Fulcher because it felt he was no longer capable of fulfilling his duties as student body president. His credibility as a student body leader has been questioned since an August article in the Kansan reported a February battery charge involving Fulcher and his ex-girlfriend Audra Glavas. Fulcher and several of his supporters have called the expulsion illegal and have questioned the Senate's methods of removal. Student Senate, like other legislative bodies, should have a process by which it can impeach an elected official. Senate does not. Such a process should outline what actions could be used as a basis for removal. This would enable students who are considering running for an elected position to analyze their actions and decide whether they should run. has to resort to Robert's Rules of Order, a handbook of parliamentary procedures. The handbook is designed for private organizations and does not mention legislative bodies such as the Senate. As it stands now, the Student Senate It is almost unbelievable that Senate does not have rules for impeachment. No matter what the excuse is for not having specific procedures, it is inexcusable. It is imperative that Student Senate develop a procedure that could be used in future cases. Julie Wasson for the editorial board Loan guarantees It's time for Israel to cast aside stubbornness President Bush's forceful request that Congress delay the debate on loan guarantees to Israel is another step on the long road to peace, which now looks more hopeful than ever. Israel's stubbornness has long been one of the major stumbling blocks along this road. Their well built wall of separation, which has been justified until now, must come down, and the first step would be to send message of hope to their neighbors by agreeing to sit and talk Israel is holding fast on its statement that there will be no meeting if any P.L.O. representatives are there or any resident of East Jerusalem. What Israel does not realize is that the United States is concerned about its interests. The United States went full steam into the gulf war to save Israel and its Arab neighbors from their chief adversary, Iraq, and this year will pump $4 billion in aid grants into their tiny country. Israel seems to have forgotten about the well-being of future immigrants, too, by stomping its feet to get more money. It will need more cash to help the 1 million Soviet Jews that may possibly immigrate, but the solution is not to build more houses in the crucial areas whose futures need to be discussed. The position of the United States as a "middle man" must be one that does not send the wrong signal to either side. Thus, the decision by Bush is a good one. It's only a delay, not a veto, on a decision. In the meantime, Israel should take the necessary steps and get down to business with the Arabs. LETTERS to the EDITOR Dan Janousek for the editorial board Wescoe Hall needscolor Anyone who gives even a cursory glance at Wesco Hall can see that it was not designed by I.M. Pei. In fact, it may be the only parking garage anywhere adapted to office and instructional use. Anyone who has had the misfortune to spend any time in Wesco Hall knows that it is poorly ventilated, drab, with a decor appropriate for a locker room with its tiled stairwells and vinyl-covered walls in institutional gray and beige and devoid of any proper identifiers, so that, for example, in the case of a medical emergency, paramedical personnel wander the halls looking for the injured. In Classics, we made an effort to enlist our environment with a few travel posters of the blue Mediterranean and photogenic antiques, which were scotch taped to vinyl walls. Those posters, along with many others, were removed recently early one morning by members of the housekeeping staff acting on orders from above. So now we look down colorless corridors with no hope of improvement in our visual environment. Perhaps we can concentrate on the patterns made on the floor and walls by the army of scurrying roaches which has taken up permanent residence in the building, invading even desk and slide drawers. Would that the zeal of the housekeeping staff could be directed to their removal! Elizabeth C. Banks Associate Professor of Classics Mad Mike lacks sportsmanship Saturday's football game was disappointing, not on the field, but in the stands. Mad Mike, the new cheerleader for the all-new Mad Zone, was a great disappointment. He was rude and unsportsmanlike, leading cheers like "Get your head out of your butt." He also was very rude to spectators sitting in the section around the Mad Zone that had paid good money to see the game. The concept of an active student section is a good one, but let it be student-centered. We as fans have done a great job in the last few years in the past without such vulgarity. Basketball coach Roy Williams has done a great job of encouraging good sportsmanship from fans at home basketball games, and his actions have made our basketball program even more respectable. It is the fans' responsibility to represent the student body in a positive way. Mad Mike's antics do not encourage sportsmanship in any way, shape or form. This football season promises to be exciting, and I do wish to be distracted from the play on the field by an overgrown showoff in the stands. The Jayhawks deserve better. Fulcher's gripes are numerous Let's see, now ... so far, Darren Fulcher and his disciples have blamed for his predicament: the University Daily Kansan (Aug. 30), the FACTS coalition (Sept. 3), campus women's groups (Sept. 4), the director of the Salvation Army homeless (Sept. 4), student Senate (Sept. 4), the white race (Sept. 10), Kristin Lange (Sept. 11), Audra Glavas (Sept. 11), and unnamed members of his own coalition (Sept. 13). Is he forgetting anybody? Steven Greenwood Lawrence resident Fulcher twice violated trust When an individual is elected to public office, it means that the voters have placed a certain trust in the candidate. In other words, an officeholder is obligated to faithfully execute and obey the laws and rules and to refrain from giving even the appearance of unethical conduct. If an official violates this public trust, he/she forfeits the right to hold office. Let's examine the case of Darren Fulcher. Mr. Fulcher deliberately mislead student voters by not disclosing his diversion agreement (read, voluntary admission of guilt) prior to the election. Clearly, his behavior was unethical since he most likely would not have been elected if he had made the disclosure. In addition, in May, it was revealed that Mr. Fulcher forged a signature to obtain pay for hours he didn't work. Since his paychec came from Student Senate funds, he essentially stole money. Out of the pockets of fellow students. Hence, Darren Fulcher twice violated the public trust and forever forfeited his right to hold public office at the University of Kansas. Clark H Coan Graduate Alumnus'79 Lawrence Kelley Bender Wichita senior El Salvador is no Nazi Germany Exaggerations like these reinforce my suspicions that Latin American solidarity is more interested in their political agenda than in trying to understand the problems that Latin America faces today. Ignorance about Latin America is only made worse by the kind of ideological hyperbole that leads some to say that El Salvador is worse than Hitler's Germany. One has to wonder what else they have to say about the region. John Fullerton's comment in the Sept. 13 issue of the *Kansan* is hard to understand coming from a person who wishes to "enlighten people." His statement that "What is going on in El Salvador makes Hitler look like a good guy" is an irresponsible trivialization of the Holocaust, and a small Central American nation really make World War II and the Holocaust look good? Ricardo Olea Jr. Lawrence senior Fulcher issue should not be clouded by bias, racism charges Too many sub-issues are beginning to cloud the one and only issue that should matter in respect to Darren Fulcher. Should Darren Fulcher remain student body president? Charges of Student Senate bias, media bias or racism are irrelevant, never mind inaccurate. If a majority of the Senate believes that Fulcher is unfit for the office of president, it's because they believe that is what is best for our student That's the only issue that needs to be resolved. Any other issue is simply a hindrance. A smoke screen, if you will. body, so hold the accusations of bias. Virtually all of our current student senators ran with Fulcher on the Impact! coalition last April. Those senators don't have a personal affinity with him. If they did, they wouldn't have run with Fulcher in the first place. The media bias, particularly the charge against the University Daily Kansan, is equally preposterous. During the Student Senate elections last April, the Kansan endorsed Fulcher's coalition over the opposing Facts coalition. The Kansan supported Fulcher, not because he was African- Rich Bennett Staff columnist American, but because of his accomplishments in his years on Student Senate. Those accomplishments haven't changed because Fulcher was charged with battery. One must decide, however, if the charge affects his ability to lead. For the racist allegations, if the Kanan, or for that the matter KU campus, is really racist, then why did they support Fulcher as president in the first place? Lest we forget, Jason McIntosh, Fulcher's opposing candidate in the election, was, and still is for that matter, a white male. When Fulcher was elected last April, race wasn't the issue, and it isn't the issue now. Darren Fulcher is the president of the student body who happens to be an African-American man, not an African-American man who nappens to be student body coach So let's not lose sight of the one only issue: should Darren Fulcher remain the student-body president? Ternish the decision. It's a personal decision. A decision that must be made after examining all the facts have surfaced. If there are any facts that haven't surfaced, it's nobody's fault but Fulcher's himself. He's had several opportunities to voice his side. The student body that elected Fulcher five months ago has heard from everyone who has chosen to speak on the issue. Let them decide. Should he stay or should he go? But there is no other issue. - Rich Bennett is an Overland Park senior majoring in journalism. Clarification: Certification In Friday's Konsen, a letter from the University of Minnesota Minority Affairs appeared with several letters involving Darren Fulcher. The minority affairs letter in no way related to the Fulcher situation. It simply was meant to welcome students to campus and offer information. KANSANSTAFF HOLLY LAWTON Editor JENNIFER REYNOLDS Managing editor TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser KATIE STADER Business manager by M. Edrie Moore RICH HARSHBARGER Retail sales manager JEANNEHINES Sales and marketing adviser Editors Business Staff News Erik Schutz Campus sales mgr. Leanne Bryan Editorial Karen Park Jennifer Claxton Planning Sarah Davis National sales mgr. David McWilaine Campus Eric Gorski Co-op sales mgr. Lee Keeler Sports Marcia Moore Jay Steiner Photos Brian Schoenell Marketing director. Beehee Features Tiffany Harness Creative director. David Habiger Graphics Iffany Unterberg Classified mgr. Jennifer Jacquoin Business Staff Stay Tooned Letters should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 200 words. They must include the writer's signature, name, address 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 photographed. The Kansas reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansas newroom, 111 Stuart Flint Hall.