THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2005
WWW.KANSAN.COM
Activism in action: students do ask, do tell Protesters must remain realistic Recruiting violates University policy
FACE OFF
PAGE 5A
With all of the activism that has sprung to life already this semester, it comes as little surprise that one target for protest is the military. Once again, some seek to stop military recruitment on campus on the grounds that the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy is bigoted and discriminatory. The problem with this protest, though, is that it is an attempt by some to impose societal ideals on the military at the expense of military effectiveness.
If you ask anyone who has spent time in or around the military, you will find that the armed services is one of the most color-blind segments of our society. In fact, minorities have held nearly every top position in the military and continue to play an important role in our country's military leadership.
This color-blindness did not come about simply because some social engineers decided it would be a good idea to eliminate discrimination in the military, but instead because the military realized that, in order for it to be as effective as possible, the most capable and deserving people needed to be
promoted to leadership positions. It is also for the sake of military effectiveness that gays are not allowed to serve openly.
Gays do serve in the military today, but the reason they are not allowed to serve openly is because there is an overwhelming concern that their sexuality will break down unit cohesion.
Contrary to the belief of some, most straight men do not want to live in intimately close quarters for long periods of time with gay men. In a perfect world, this would not be an issue because everyone could just get along, but in the real world, this type of situation creates tension and uneasiness.
This strain causes military units to work less effectively as a team and leads to an overall decrease in a unit's ability to accomplish the mission.
This reduction in performance may be an acceptable cost in the corporate world where the result is profit, but in the military, the reduction of a unit's ability to perform its mission can often lead to unnecessary deaths and injuries when it is faced with the
combat situations the military now encounters every day.
I'm glad that people are taking an interest in the military and are concerned enough to protest, but instead of seeking to expel recruiters because of a policy that conflicts with the notions of an ideal society, I hope that people take the time to examine the reasons behind the policy to understand why the military is reluctant to change its position.
PROTEST INFO
Joshua Goetting writing for the editorial board.
Regardless of what sida you take on this issue, there will be a protest held today with the intention of banning all military recruitment and training on campus. This is an excellent opportunity to make your voice heard.
WHAT: Rally Against Military Recruitment on Campus
WHEN: Today at 12 noon WHERE: Wescoe Beach, KU campus
There are many protests that are launched because of an organization's beliefs. A university law, however, validates protesting against military recruitment on campus.
There are two policies that violate the rights of KU students: the Solomon Act and the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. The Solomon Act says that if any establishment of higher education prohibits on-campus recruitment, the government can cut defense funds, transportation funds, labor, health/human services and education funds from the school.
In layman's terms, the milli-
The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy was instated as President Clinton's response to the exclusion of homosexuals in the military. The statute states: "The prohibition against homosexual conduct is a long standing element of military law that continues to be necessary in the unique circumstances of military service... The presence in the armed forces of persons who... engage in homosexual acts would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion."
tary now allows gays to be in the military, as long as they don't reveal or talk about their sexuality, because the presence of homosexuals would injure morale.
If the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy was truly nondiscriminatory, it would also apply to heterosexuals, meaning that everyone in the military would have to be asexual, banning any signs of sexuality, including wedding rings.
Our membership solicitation policy states: "Discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, or parental status is prohibited. All campus-related organizations are required to adhere to the equal opportunity policies in the selection of their members." The policy applies to "employment practices, conditions of employment, personnel actions and all other educational programs and activities of the University and its affiliates." Therefore, any organization that is biased against any minority cannot solicit new members, promote itself or even provide activities on campus.
But if the administration denies the military — a clear violator of KU policy — the right to recruit on campus, the government is allowed to cut essential funds from the school in accordance with the Solomon Act, meaning a poorer education for students.
While recruitment is an essential part of creating an all-volunteer military, the government cannot expect educational establishments to abandon their nondiscriminatory policies. The United States is built on constitutions, contracts and equal rights, and while on-c campus recruitment may not be directly responsible for human injury, it is still in violation of a University policy. Should the military's bylaw concerning homosexuality change to represent all forms of sexuality, on-campus recruitment would not be in direct violation of University policy, and would be a welcome solicitation. The funds the University receives for propagating a setback in civil and equal rights progress sends a clear message that the University's morals are easily bought and sold.
Betsy McLeod writing for the editorial board.
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息 comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
This is to the guy who wants to know what the best pick-up line was, well I was at the Ranch last week, and this guy told me I was hotter than a pot of boiling grease.
Free-For-All, my roommate just had sex with the ugliest girl I have ever seen, and that's not even the worst part: he was sober.
Hey, Free-For-All, guess what's more annoying than freshman and new bus drivers? The same Free-For-All comment in the same column on the same day!
The reason all those people at Jeff-Co were carrying cups is because they were moving to another party because Jeff-Co police are lame.
Thank you for your editorial, Professor Boyd, there are many people who feel the same way.
Just because you are on a bicycle don't make you invincible to traffic laws, next time, I will hit you.
Free-For-All, I'm in the stadium lot in a line of about 50 cars, and I think the university should pay my gas bill.
Oh goody! The Kansas Union is getting a copy center, now we just have to wait for KUnited to take credit for it.
If KU is a dry campus, why is the Adams Alumni Center selling beer and wine to the faculty and staff at Friday's TGIF social?
I did not realize there was an ongoing campaign for a hotdog cart on Wescoe Beach, but now that I know, I say, "Yes."
It's August 23rd and guess what, my textbook isn't in.
Why? Because Kinko's sucks.
Actually, Bob Dole rocks my socks.
Dude, does Bob Dole read the Kansan? Because if he does, then either he's really, really cool, or our opinion editor is really, really lame!
At the KU games, they should call hotdogs hawks-dogs!
We all agree that the guy that went to alternative lifestyles night might be a little gay.
When did Honda Civics start sounding like crotch-rockets?
So I'm glad to see you're apologizing for the Bob Dole comment, but could you apologize for the general suckiness of it?
Okay, so I really wish ResNet would have just told us everything we needed to know about signing up for the Internet, or at least stayed open until they said they would. I'm pretty sure 7:30 isn't 8 o'clock.
I just want to say everyone slows down a little, because my friend is in the hospital and probably going to die because someone couldn't take the two seconds to stop at a light.
I just went to Sonic, not an hour ago, and it said they offered both "hot eats and cool treats." Do these refer to something inappropriate? Because I’m vagually aroused.
What's this about lowering your standards to whale? Whale is top-notch for me.
Wouldn't the forced merger of the Lawrence transportation service and KU on Wheels be a monopoly?
John Morgan, sales director
864-4462 or adddirector@kansan.
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Sarah Connelly, advertising director 864-4014 or adddirector@kansan.com
TALK TO US
Matthew Sevck, opinion editor
864-4924 or msevk@kansan.com
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Austin Caster, editor
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EDITORIAL BOARD
Elis Ford, Yanting Wang, Julia Mellim Coelho, Dan Hoyt, Anne Weltmer, Julie Parlite, Nathan McGinnis, Josh Goetting, Sara Garlick, Chase Edgerton, Rwittlinger, David Archer
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Welcome to Allen Field Mouse... trap.
WHEN IT RAINES,IT POURS
Educating you, by the (face)book
Congratulations, freshmen! You've entered college, a journey that you will foggle remember as the best years of your life. Becoming a member of the student body at a major university brings many new responsibilities and unique privileges. Because responsibility will crush your youthful enthusiasm soon enough, let's focus on the privileges.
For those who haven't yet discovered this technological marvel, www.facebook.com is the online popularity contest that has taken all the fun, awkwardness, and actual human contact out of meeting new people. For the simple price of your college email address, and your anonymity, you can become a member of this ever-growing online community. Every new profile holds the promise of entertainment, disdain, anger, sadness, delight and ultimately, the savage satisfaction of judging others.
Unfortunately, like real life, your picture is what will determine whether people venture on to see what's down below. It's important to put your best face forward. Girls, browse through the hundreds of identical photos of you and your smiling friends huddled around a table, and find the one that you look best
Properly crafting your profile is of the utmost importance. The information you reveal will be the first impression you give to thousands of people who you'll probably never meet. Think of your profile as a first date, where you only have to reveal the good things about yourself. As an admitted and self-loathing facebook junkie, I can provide a veteran's insight into creating the best profile possible.
Under interests, keep it simple and vague. Be sure to list "Hanging out with Friends," or "Partying." This will set you apart from those people that don't like their friends or having a good time. Other good options are "Sleeping," "Drinking," or "Shopping" as there are few people with these interests, and you'll definitely stand in the crowd.
CHRIS RAINE
opinion@kansan.com
Under movies, putting "The Notebook" or "Napoleon Dynamite" will ensure that you share an interest with at least 100 million other profiles.
Don't worry too much about listing books; a simple "Who reads?" or "Yeah right" will say far more about you than any list of nerdy books. Also, this lets people know when to stop reading and move on to the next profile.
The meat and potatoes of your profile will fall under the personal info section. When forming facebook friendships, the interests you reveal are all that a potential friend has to judge you by.
in. Crop out your better-looking friends, and don't be scared to show a little cleavage. Guys, your pictures should make it apparent that you like to drink and or that you work out on a regular basis, and don't be scared to show a little cleavage.
Under quotes, be sure to have at least one inspirational quote, one inside joke from your drunken friend, and any quote from Napoleon Dynamite. Seriously, that movie never gets old.
Congratulations! You've successfully created your facebook profile, now it's time to explore what this online social network has to offer — this will be pages upon pages of profiles similar to that described above. But eventually, you will find that unique profile that will make you sick with longing, wondering how you're supposed to meet that digital angel that matches up perfectly with your interests, who looks gorgeous in his or her carefully selected photo, whose quotes and wall provide a glance at an irresistible humor and wit that could only be ruined by reality.
Perusing www.thefacebook.com is no more stalking than looking through the classified ads for job openings. A person only displays what they want others to know about them, so you shouldn't feel ashamed for taking a look at what they have to offer. Be liberal with your pokes and messaging, because an active online community is a healthy online community. Remember, a stranger is just a friend that you haven't "facebooked" yet.
Join groups at your own discretion, but remember, you'll probably never check these again. And if you join the "I'd so have sex in the library" club, you'd better mean it. Nobody likes a tease.The "About Me" section is only there in case there's anything about your personality that can't be easily determined by your superficial interests in various forms of entertainment. Most of you will leave this blank.
- Chris Raine is a Wichita senior in journalism.
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