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University Daily Kansan/ Thursday, September 12, 1991
OPINION
Don't give up yet
Students can find plenty to do on campus
The first semester at a university the size of KU often can be an intimidating experience. Hundreds of people in class, an administrative maze and more sources of information than you could possibly use all contribute to a feeling that you cannot possibly learn about everything.
Fortunately, the feeling usually passes by the third year of college. But that is three years too late.
The key to a better education at the University of Kansas is to be an active participant in your own education. Don't just go to class and then go home. Education works very well when you are not a passive bump on a log.
If you don't know where to start, try the Information Center. They won't do your homework for you, but they can point you in the right direction.
Standing at the intersection of Jay hawk Boulevard and Sunflower Road, you are within 200 yards of four major libraries: Watson Library, the Anschutz Science Library, the Government Documents Library in Malott Hall and the Spencer Research Library behind Strong Hall.
Also take advantage of free lectures and seminars offered on campus. There are everything from lectures on the bigbang theory to readings of Dr. Seuss books. Go to events sponsored by Student Union Activities where nationally recognized speakers such as Angela Davis are featured.
Another way to expand your educational opportunities is to join a campus organization. Organizations range from the Nippon Kempo club to KUGAR, Kansas University Gamers and Roleplayers. There is something for everyone.
No matter what you do, the key is to take your education into your own hands and mold it to what you want.
That is, after all, why students are here. Tolearn.
Benjamin Allen for the editorialboard
Question: Do you think the Kansan's coverage of the Darren Fulcher incident has been fair?
Sherlanda Brooks
Senior
Communications
Chicago
"I think that this whole ordeal has been unfair. So, yes, I think that the newspaper's coverage has been unfair. I wouldn't say they've played a major role, but they have played a part."
Sam Ghatashef
Senior
Mathematics
Palestine
"I think it has been fair. Both sides of the issue have been represented."
Tanny Ahmad
Freshman
Premed
St. Louis
"The opinions seem to be more one-sided against him. There's more talk of throwing him out than there is of helping him."
Jayhawk Bookstore faces unfair competition
Kansas Union Bookstores use University connections and leaves rival far behind
Due to an inadvertent question in a communications class lecture given by the owner of the Jayhawk Bookstore, light was shed on an issue that should concern all students. The Jayhawk Bookstore, during its 18 years of ownership by Bill Muggy, has been denied recognition and respect by the University of Kansas and the surrounding neighborhood of Crescent Road and Naismith Drive. The store's existence was the result of a business partnership over which Muggy received sole control. Non-textbook publications used to make up the primary revenue of the old store, at that time named Varsity Supply. On May 1, 1978, Muggy opened the Jayhawk Bookstore, which displayed a larger variety of books and supplies, including textbooks.
The period between May 1978 and September 1991 has been an uphill struggle. This classic struggle, which is typical of the perils of private industry, has pitted the taxing Jayhawk Bookstore against the powers of the local governing body.
For example, the Jayhawk Bookstore is a very visual part of this campus, yet the university denies knowledge of its existence to new students. University catalogs and maps of the
area fail to mention the Jayhawk Bookstore or its being an alternative to the highly coveted non-taxpaying Kansas Union Bookstores. For 10 years, the Jayhawk Bookstore was denied information about enrollment for upcoming semesters, information which is vital to the operation of any bookstore's pursuit to fill the needs of students. The Union Bookshed had exclusive access to that information. Fee payment used to be done inside of Allen Field House but has been moved to Kansas Union. Why was that? Who knows, but it took two years for the Jayhawk Bookstore to build back the business volume it once had.
Muggy has spent thousands of dollars for legal representation to challenge the surrounding neighborhood and the KU administration because of his location as one of the two commercial establishments adjacent to campus. The Hawk Crossing is the other. Because the property is considered non-conforming, which means that it can only be used for specific purposes, a small group of neighbors, staff and alumni in the past have opposed the expansion and growth of this business by mounting petitions, quoting worst-case scenario's, such as the properties transition from bookstore to drinking
Frank Williams Staff columnist
bar, and arguing that any expansion move by the store would be an encroachment on the neighborhood and destroy the beauty of the campus. The vertical expansion that was completed in December 1990 took years of negotiations and compromises.
Muggy's Bookstore hasn't even been used as a reference on the price of books at the university. It has been denied the right to have its information placed in packets for students. I don't know about you, but I would rather see a page advertising the Jayhawk Bookstore than another Mastercard/Visa application.
Probably more trivial, yet still significant, is the fact that the Jayhawk double-decker bus cannot be driven through campus because of the advertisement on its side without special permission, which is hard to acquire. I say again, why is that?
In an interview with Muggy, I was impressed by his loyalty to KU and his unyielding Jayhawk pride, but I was shocked to understand some of the practices of our highly respected community. In a letter to Gov. Joan
Finney, Muggy outlined a detailed plan on how a project to rebuild Hoch Auditorium could be funded. This plan revealed two money sources that in their entirety easily could get the job done.
One source is the funds accumulated from the 7-percent to 7.5-percent royalty already charged to all KU- and Jayhawk-imprinted paraphernalia that is earmarked as scholarship funds. Money from the student rebate program which started 4.9 years ago at the Union Bookstores to help students could also be used. Where is this money? Ironically, the Union Bookstores control these funds and channel this money into... well into... get the picture? And where are these funds when someone comes up with the brilliant idea of increasing tuition and other fees?
Alicia Stidham
Freshman
Undecided
Overland Park
"I think that the coverage has been fair. It seems to represent both sides, pro and cop."
Staci Parmet Sophomore Liberal Arts Leawood
Frank Williams is a Kansas City, Kan. sophomore majoring in journalism.
"They're milking it for all its worth, but he is the president, a role model for the University. He's not setting a good example."
Clarification: The letter written by Pam Houston and published on Tuesday's Opinion page should have identified Houston only as a KU staff member instead of the Director of the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Center. The letter reflects only the opinion of the signed author and not the opinion of the KU administration.
Howard Milton
Junior
History
Winfield, Ill.
"I think we got to hear both sides. From what I've read, the general coverage has been pretty air. I think, however, that we have heard enough. it's been a little blown out of proportion. But I think that the coverage has been very just, and now we've heard enough."
KANSANSTAFF
HOLLY LAWTON Editor
JENNIFER REYNOLDS Managing editor
TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser
Editors
Editors
News Erik Schutz
Editorial Karen Park
Planning Sarah Davis
Campus Eric Gorski
Sports Mike Andrews
Photo Brian Schoenil
Features Tiffany Harness
Graphics Melissa Unterberg
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by Mike Romane
Last Hurrahs