4 University Daily Kansan/Thursday, September 5, 1991 OPINION Who's responsible? Curfew places parental duty on KC cops The holiday to honor working people has just passed, only to leave yet another duty bestowed on a group of traditionally underpaid and overworked individuals. On Aug. 22, the Kansas City police were informed of the City Council's 8-4 vote in favor of a curfew for minors. "I'm not sure how enforceable the ordinance will be," said Greg Mills, police representative, "because we don't even have enough officers to send out when a shooting occurs." This curfew places undue pressure on both the police and the teen-agers, but not enough on the parents, with whom the responsibility of raising a child should lie. Ronald E. Rinley, the sponsor of the ordinance, said that the ordinance was intended to present parents with appropriate hours standards for children. The ordinance states that it is unlawful for anyone younger than 18 years old to be out between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. during the week and midnight and 6 a.m. on weekends. Exceptions and special circumstances for teens have been outlined in the ordinance, such as attending school functions and work. There in les part of the ambiguity. Do the police fine someone for not carrying identification? Who will pay those fines? Jennifer Tanous for the editorial board We agree that an action needs to be taken concerning the welfare and growth of children, but we are leery of the law's effectiveness on social order, and we are disheartened by the City Council's hasty decision in trying to solve the problem. It worries us that valuable police resources may be wasted upholding a law that replaces parental authority. The burden to ensure children's safety should be left to parents or guardians, not the police. Victoria Albarracin Freshman Don't make Fulcher controversy a racial issue Freshman Scott City "I don't know if they look very intimidating or if people take them seriously. I've heard people making fun of them." Voices on the Hill Again, I wist to address that I am not prejudiced against physical characteristics or ethnic background. What bothers me are the finger pointers who lump everyone into the category of "opressor." They are being just as biased as the supposed majority is against them. Although my back Question: What do you think about the police using bikes to patrol the University of Kansas campus? Lance Dobbins Guest columnist Find it intriguing that in Tuesday's Kansasan it was reported that the coalition seeking Fulcher's resignation scheduled a meeting with Black Men of Today, Black Student Union and UJIMA in an effort to "diffuse any problems that might occur between the groups because of the statement asking for Fulcher's resignation." This is not an issue attacking an African-American who is in a position of authority. This is an issue that is about a man beating a woman. Physical abuse is wrong no matter what the race or sex. A man against a woman, two men, two women or even a man senselessly beating his dog—all of this is wrong. The idea that Fulcher should be let to slide by for the fact that he is African-American is absurd. One does I also will say that I have attended parties where groups of African-Americans have invoked people for not find too much praise for William Kennedy Smith. Lance Dobbins is a Lawrence junior major ing in sociology. Watch double standards and hope that peace befalls us all. I say this knowing that discrimination and prejudice exist. I am not naive enough to think that discrimination belongs upon the mythological shelf with unicorns and elves. What I am saying is not coming from a supermacist point of view, in which I hope to diffuse racial tensions by denying their existence. What I actually am saying is that there are a great deal of us in the middle who get angry whenever discrimination, blatant or subt, occurs. We also tire of being forced to accept blame whenever various ethnic minorities lash out. I wish to begin by saying that I am in no way an advocate for racial stratification. Discriminating against an individual based upon ethnic background does not belong in the global village in which we all live. That having been said, I wish to go on. Unfortunately for myself and many more like me, I will probably be the target of retribution. Fine. Just let me say my piece. In lieu of the recent Darren Fulcher events and the responses evoked from it, I wish to say this. I do not believe that everything is a racial issue. I also find Frank William's column in Friday's Kansan intriguing. Williams said that he and more than 75 African-American students were "concerned that the Kansan has once again been used or allowed to be used as a pawn to discredit Fulcher." To this I ask where Mr. Williams was when a certain pizza event happened a while back. I wholeheartedly was behind the punishment of the student at fault, but I seem to remember that not just the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity was blamed, but the entire Greek system. Being in a fraternity, I can say that the percentage of people who are racists is fairly small. Much more prominent is the number of people who label grecs as estlist and discriminatory. This double standard must stop. The Kansan was used by many more individuals who, quite basically, blamed whites for societal conflicts. I am not happy nor proud of the possibility that some of my ancestors owned slaves. The thought repulses me. But for someone to say to my face that I am to blame for the ills of minorities repulses me the sime. I have had confrontations with people whose attitudes were along those of the KKK's, and I will tell you that a couple of times I had to be held back. ground is white/middle class. I understand the feelings of discrimination. When my family lived in Memphis, Tenn., I was the only white child in my kindergarten and first-grade class. Granted, this was awake ago, because the feelings of animosity leave a deen scar. Rvan Weddle Freshman no reason, beaten people (African American and white) for no reason, knifed someone or pulled out a gun in an effort to prove their superiority. I see problems on both sides. I also see problems when certain women blame all men for abuse in our society. Sophoraore Olathe Mara Ferris What I am trying to say is that there is just an all-for or an all-against population. There is a very large number of people such as myself in the middle who are tired of seeing injustices done as well as being blamed for something he had no part of. I like how Williams ended by saying: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." I only hope that he and the others behind him are wary of the double-standard stone. A good example of this is director Spike Lee who, in a recent Rolling Stone interview, admitted to being prejudiced against whites. He, and others like him, charge that if Larry Bird were African-American, he would simply be another basketball player. The fact that he is white supposedly makes him the "Great White Hope." Well to those of you who believe this to be true, I ask this: If Spike Lee were white, would he simply be another director? Would his message carry any weight? "I think it's economically wise to have bicycles. I think it's a plus. It cuts down on the cars on campus." Wichita "I think it's pretty ridiculous. I saw them the other day and they were just sitting there waiting for people." Leslie Nickels Senior Leavenworth "I think it's a great idea as far as conserving energy and keeping them healthy." Adrian Dorris Freshman Moundridge, Kan. "Personally I feel it's a bit ridiculous. Any sort of crime that's committed would be near or in a vehicle." "It's probably helpful. It would be helpful as long as there are traffic violators." 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