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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11,2007 WWW.KANSAN.COM
EDITORIAL: Student Senate elections begin today. The Kansan editorial board endorses a coalition and gives a call to action. See Kansan.com for more opinions and Free for All comments
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
PAGE 11A
》OUR VIEW
Editorial board endorses coalition
Those who serve in Student Senate stand as tribunes for the masses, voices for those whose wishes are often lost in the clamor of everyday campus life. Ideally, those voices work to advance the causes of the greatest number of students while maintaining an efficient, streamlined student government. Too often, it seems, that advancement and representation gets lost in the bustle of intercoalition competition, résumé-padding and the comparatively trivial squabbles of the next campaign.
As the time draws nigh for the Editorial Board to endorse a coalition ticket for today's elections, we find our deliberations again tinged with disappointment. Each coalition is encouraging in its own right, and any of the six candidates for highest office would no doubt perform capably, decently and fairly. Our unavoidable air of melancholy comes not with the quality of the people, but with the staleness of the campaign ideas.
Too many of each coalition's platform proposals stand merely as platitudes and appeasements. We find the same ideas perennially resurrected, trotted out with renewed vigor and determination by the latest in a long line of ambitious would-be senators. They crowd Wescoe Beach, inundating the passersby with leaflets and buttons, crowing about the change that will finally come to campus. Their glowing promises are enticing to the ears of young students, those fed up with the system and determined to finally do something.
work!
Old ideas are given new names and retread proposals are repackaged as practical solutions. Each coalition claims in turn to have polled the most students and to have the unspoken support of the administration, each pledging that here, at long last, are ideas that
But semesters pass, the graduates proceed down the hill and through the Campanile, and few things ever change. Textbooks still break our bank accounts, parking spots remain as elusive as ever, and crime still occasionally permeates our idyllic campus. In the next campaign season, only one thing is guaranteed: a new round of candidates, a few renamed coalitions, each promising to lower textbook prices, create new parking lots and eliminate unsafe campus elements.
It's our sincere hope that this year's candidates and winners view Student Senate as more than something you do for experience, a body whose importance goes beyond a line on a future cover letter. You are the chosen representatives of thousands, and your election carries an intrinsic responsibility that is not easily ignored. Work to benefit the campus community and you will be rewarded. Abdicate your charge and you will join the depressingly long ranks of those before you.
With that said, we endorse the United Students ticket for today's election. Though we appreciate the candid enthusiasm of Students' Rights and the earnest dedication of Delta Force, United Students seems to operate with a machine-like efficiency that would make Tweed and Pendergast proud. We caution, however, that United Students often sounds like a timely repackaging of coalitions past. We urge them to take a potential victory with the utmost seriousness and responsibility. Student Senate is not a résumé accoutrement — it is an elected body with significant tasks. Please treat it as such.
— Tasha Riggins and McKay Stangler for the editorial board.
MLB Team Pharmacist
Inject this into alternating buttocks daily. And make sure to stay away from any ass-slapping teammates.
Looks like another long night at the office...
NASCAR Team Coroner
Grant Snider/KANSAN
》 LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Speaker, columnist have right to expression
An article by Francesca Chambers recently published in The University Daily Kansan accused the Federalist Society of inviting a "blatant racist" to speak at its monthly meeting. As president of the Federalist Society and the person responsible for inviting speakers, I feel I should respond to this accusation.
The Federalist Society is a nonpartisan national organization of conservative and libertarian law students, law professors and legal practitioners who are dedicated to fostering balanced and open debate among students, academics, legal practitioners and public policy experts. The society was founded by a group of students who were dissatisfied with the orthodox liberal ideology and radicalism found in most of their classes and wanted to create a forum for debate on a wider range of legal viewpoints. We continue to work towards these goals. Professor Amy Wax was invited in an effort to achieve such ends. The Federalist Society does not necessarily support or endorse the viewpoint she or any other speaker we host advocates. We merely sought to create debate on an important societal issue. As evidenced by Ms. Chambers' article, we achieved this goal.
Ms. Chambers' charge of racism is unfair, but I believe she has a right to express her opinion. Our country was founded on the principles of freedom of speech and Ms. Chambers is welcome to express
her opinion about the event. However, I ask her to afford this same opportunity to Wax. We live in a diverse society with an abundance of diverging views and there are always going to be individuals with viewpoints we find offensive. Regardless of the fact that we find someone's view offensive is no justification to prevent that person from expressing it.
My last point of contention is the accusation that Wax didn't present a solution. It's unfair to say Wax is not concerned about these problems because she didn't offer a concrete resolution. If we silenced all discussion that failed to offer concrete solutions, our nation would be in a troublesome state especially because solutions
are often discovered through dialogue such as this. Furthermore, I think Chambers missed the point of Wax's presentation, which is that welfare and government intervention have not been effective in combating the nation's poverty and single-motherhood epidemic. The government has failed and in some ways made the problem worse, which is why Wax argued change is going to have to come from people, not government.
I must disagree with the substance of Chambers' article, but I appreciate it in so far as it furthers debate on this issue.
Beth Dorsey Emporia second year law student
FREE FOR ALL
Call 864-0500
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve
the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded
I've decided to wear black for the rest of the week to mourn the loss of Julian Wright.
I hate the NBA, it's such a homewrecker. We love you, Julian.
Hey Julian, great job in college. Good luck in the NBA.
All I have to say is Brandon Rush better not leave, too.
Julian, I'm going to tell your mom what you're doing.
Yes, Julian, it is about the money.
I just wanted to call and ask all the guys out there how many piercings is too many piercings for a girl, and which ones are hot and which ones are not?
Do these Ugg boots make me look
f=1?
I heard Darnell Jackson is going to go to the NBA, too.
Burrito King for Student Senate! Wee!
for them.
Free for All, I can guarantee that there are at least three sexual deviants in Delta Force. Don't vote
I really should go to bed soon. Especially since I have to get up at the butt crack of dawn.
ovaries, but careful. They're inside you, so it's real bad.
I will die before I disavow my loyalty to Chris. You guys are twats.
I just did really good on a chemistry test, but Julian is leaving. I'm in a glass case of emotion!
Molly, just because Spring Break is over doesn't mean you get to stop taking your top off.
I love Raymond.
I guess Chris was in the wrong, but he didn't deserve to be fired. And what sort of consequences are you talking about, asshole? Bring
it on!
ovaries, but careful. They're inside you, so it's real bad.
I will die before I disavow my loyalty to Chris. You guys are twats.
--ovaries, but careful. They're inside you, so it's real bad.
I will die before I disavow my loyalty to Chris. You guys are twats.
Congratulations Julian, you led to
The best part about Student Senate elections is knowing that the next day, all that chalk and crap is going to be gone from the
Hey guys, I just had this awesome idea. I'm going to treat the Free for All like it's a person el-oh-el.
I love you, Dad!
It's been a month since Daylight Savings Time started. Can't somebody figure out how to make the computers at Anschutz display the
I just want to thank my GTA for throwing up at the end of class today. It probably made my day.
Hey Free for All, drink this. It'll make you grow hair on your
uewa
ovaries, but careful. They're inside you, so it's real bad.
I will die before I disavow my loyalty to Chris. You guys are twats.
图
Oh man, I just walked in on my roommate having sex. I guess he's not a virgin anymore.
The only reason I'm enjoying the rain right now is because it's erasing all the political nonsense.
I am totally all about the pointless campus propaganda being washed away by the rain. You go, rain. You rock.
ovaries, but careful. They're inside you, so it's real bad.
I will die before I disavow my loyalty to Chris. You guys are twats.
To whoever found my keys down on Mass Street on April 10th around lunch time. Thank you so much, you are a life saver.
These shoes suck.
Patrick Ross, managing editor 864-4854 or pross@kansan.com
Julian Wright is dynamite! We will miss you. Play well.
Nicole Kelley, managing editor 864-4854 or nkelley@kansan.com
Who cares who makes the Skyline? It's a car. Nobody really cares
Gabriella Souza, editor
864-4854 or gsouza@kansan.com
Courtney Hagen, opinion editor 864-4924 or chagen@kansan.com
》 TALK TO US
Lindsey Shirak, business manager 864-4014 or lshirak@kansan.com
Natalie Johnson, associate opinion editor 864-4924 or njohnson@kansan.com
Jackie Schaffer, sales manager
864-4462 or jschaffer@kansan.com
Malcolm Gibson, general manager, news adviser
864.7667 mahlsen@kansas.com
Next time you see someone raising awareness about problems in the Third World remember that they are very real and you can do something about it, but only if you choose to.
Jennifer Weaver, sales and marketing adviser
864-7666 or jweaver@kansan.com
There are several great organizations to get involved with to help. Everything from joining the Peace Corps, to micro financing entrepreneurs with loans in third world countries at www.kiva.org. It is worth noting that in countries where many people subsist on a few dollars a day, giving only $20, $50 or $100 can really make an impact in a community.
》 SUBMISSIONS
The Kansan welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumni. The Kansen reserves the right to edit, cut to length, or reject all submissions.
Conor McCartney Madison, Wisc. junior
>> LETTER TO THE EDITOR
For any questions, call Courtney Hagen or Natalie Johnson at 864-4810 or e-mail opinion@kansan.com.
General questions should be directed to the editor at editor@kansan.com
How is it that we are able to move on when we are reminded on a weekly basis about the suffering that goes on in other countries? We either convince ourselves that we cannot do anything, or on some level we convince ourselves that it isn't real. How else would we be able to spend $20 at the Hawk when we know that same $20 would feed a family of four for a month in several other countries?
The simple answer is that we couldn't. The reality of the suffering of other human beings in this world is something we've become comfortable with ignoring. The reality is 20,000 people die every day due to extreme poverty. It doesn't have to be that way, but while the world has the resources to help its poorest citizens it lacks the will. Part of this is because the problem seems so large that we all end up asking ourselves "What can I do?"
LETTER GUIDELINES
Third-world countries need real attention
SUBMIT LETTERSTO
111 Stauffer-Flint Hall
1435 Jaywick Blvd.
Lawrence, KS 60045
(783) 684-8120 opinion.japanman.com
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or position (faculty member/staff) and phone number (will not be published)
We have all seen movies, informers or Bono talking about sending aid to some God-forsaken country where children live in the streets; most people don't have access to clean water, let alone medical care; and the number one cause of death for children under the age of five is dehydration, often due to diarrhea. Normally we feel bad for about 20 seconds and then move on when we think about how privileged we are and how many people have it so rough.
GUEST COLUMN GUIDELINES
Maximum Length: 500 words
Author: Input者 name; class, hometown (student); position (faculty member/staff); phone number (will not be published)
Also: The Kansas will not print guest columns that attack a reporter or another columnist.
EDITORIAL BOARD
1
Gabrielle Soua, Nicole Kelley, Patrick Ross, Courtney Hagen, Natalie Johnson, Alison Kielec, Tasha Riggins and McKay Stangler