OPINION
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PUBLISHED DAILY SINCE 1912
TARA THENARY, Editor HEATHER VALLEY, Business manager LINDSEY HERRY, Managing editor MARIA CREST, Retail sales manager PAUL EAKINS, Editorial editor JUSTIN KNUIPP, Technology coordinator TOM EBLEN, General manager, news adviser DAN SIMON, Sales and marketing adviser
Wednesday, July 2, 1997
Paul Eakins/ KANSAN
Editorials
Internet ruling puts responsibility on parents, on-line companies
When the Supreme Court declared certain provisions of the Communications Decency Act, 1996, unconstitutional, seeking to protect children from smut on the Internet, it created a new benchmark on Internet policing policies.
The court's Thursday decision said the Act, in its attempt to protect children from indecent material on the Internet, improperly restricted the free-speech of adults, enshrined in the First Amendment.
The argument that the screening technology, which blocks portions of the Internet not suitable for children, is hardly fool-proof, should activate online companies to devise better systems
Hopefully, this decision will help place the responsibility on the players who matter most in the Internet-pornography debate — the parents and the online companies.
Companies need to invest money in software limiting childrens' access to porn.
to help protect interests of children. Online companies will have to better assess their responsibility in the area. Granted, parents are the first and foremost guardians of their children. But the Internet is a technological juggernaut, and only better technology can help beat technological loopholes.
Parents, on the other hand, will have to make more time and, in many cases, beef up their own technical abilities if they are to supervise their children better. Less than 40 percent of homes connected to the Internet use screening software, claims Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.
It may perhaps help if web-parlors for
children are created, or schools and colleges better equip themselves with internet software. For a start, online companies could help make both Internet software and screening technology more cost-effective for educational institutions.
Almost 8,000 sites on the Internet display pornographic material, according to the Chicago Tribune, the numbers of which rise systematically every day. Although the Supreme Court ruling is a victory for cybercitizens, the apprehensions expressed by the Act's supporters are real and well-grounded.
All of us who monitored the debate about whether television is bad for children know what happens when sound-bites and tokenism overtake meaningful actions. If the Internet is to be made a healthy medium of communication, it needs a better shot of good intentions on all sides.
PALLAVI AGARWAL FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Downtown parking solution in question
As any shopper in downtown Lawrence knows, finding a parking space near downtown is a difficult task.
1. Strengthen parking rules and regulations relative to long-term parking in designated short-term parking spaces, increase fines and penalties for illegal parking, and increase enforcement.
The City commissioned Walker Parking Consultants/Engineers Inc., of Denver, to do a study on the parking problem. The company decided on several possible solutions in its 60-page proposal. Among them were:
2. re-strete existing parking facilities to gain additional parking capacity.
3. Expand with structured parking.
According to Sunday's Lawrence Journal-World, Don Monahan, of Walker Parking, recommended the first of these suggestions, under the assumption that people would not overpark or park
Increased charges, fines enforcement not answer to problem, will anger public.
longer than necessary. This is wrong.
longer than necessary. This is wrong.
People are unlikely to change their habits significantly and will continue to take their chances with getting tickets.
Rather than having public approval at the parking spaces that may be opened, there will be public outcry at the lack of free parking spaces, and the fine, charge and enforcement increases.
“Aren’t we down here to spend OUR money at YOUR stores? Why should there be watchdogs breathing down our necks, just waiting for us to spend two minutes too long in one of your stores, so that you can ticket us and make even more money off of us?” they will ask.
Monahan should take into account his own example of Deadwood, S.D., where the city took his initial suggestion of increasing charges but then had to revert to the old charges after much citizen and tourist outcry.
The ideas of restriping existing lots to add 40 to 50 spaces is reasonable, as is making Vermont and New Hampshire streets one-way with angled parking, adding 275 additional spaces.
The prospect of a parking garage, although it would add 400 spaces, seems expensive (estimated cost of $5.75 million), unrealistic and excessive, when other, cheaper options are available.
A copy of the proposal can be acquired at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St., or at the city manager's office at City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets, where comments can be sent through July 15.
PAUL EAKINS FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
KANSAN STAFF
JEN SMITH ... Corp
ANDREA ALBRIGHT ... Campus
ASHLEIGH ROBERTS ... Photo
BRYAN VOLK ... Design
CORY CORONA ... Assistant Design
NEWS EDITORS
ADVERTISING MANAGERS
KATHYR JENSEN ... Classified
RACHIE RUBIN ... Creative/Special Sections
STEPHANIE DECKER ... Regional/Campus
How to submit letters and guest columns
Letters: Should be double-spaced typed and fewer than 200 words. Letters must include the author's signature, name, address and telephone number plus class and hometown if a University student. Faculty or staff must identify their positions.
Guest columns: Should be double-spaced typed with fewer than 700 words. The writer must
willing to be photographed for the column to run.
Quotable
All letter and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Paul Eakins at 864-4810 (opinion@kansan.com).
"We shall never understand the natural environment until we see it as a living organism. Land can be healthy or sick, fertile or barren, rich or poor, lovingly nurtured or bled white. Our present attitudes and laws governing the ownership and use of land represent an abuse of the concept of private property...In America today you can murder land for private profit. You can leave the corpse for all to see, and nobody calls the cops."
— Paul Brooks, The Pursuit of Wilderness, 1971
Columns
Ticket taker insolent to late movie-goers
I have seen the face of pure pomposity.
There are few people in this world that I truly despise. Fred Phelps, John Starks, Barbra Streisand. That guy who sense-
lessly yelled "White or wheat?" at me at a Subway in Boulder. My seventh-grade shop teacher. An assortment of European dictators from the past. But the ticket taker at the Tivoli makes Mussolini look like Dick Clark.
It resides in the heart of West-port. At the artsier-than-thou Tivoli Westport Square movie theater, to be exact. Behind the ticket counter, to be even more exact. Wearing a smug, disaffected grin and a couple days of equally disaffected facial hair.
OK, the story goes like this. And in the words of the great Dave Barry, I'm not making this up:
A few weeks ago, I went with a couple of friends to Westport to see *Chasing Amy*. The movie — I'm sorry, "film," — began at 7 p.m., and we arrived at approximately 7:08 p.m. Apparently this was sin number one in the book of art house etiquette, because the reception we got from ticket boy was chillier than a Dairy Queen in Duluth. Hoping we hadn't missed much, we asked him how long the previews lasted.
"The TRAILERS spanned three to four minutes," he muttered, hardly looking up from his tattered Bukowski paperback.
"So do you mind filling us in on what happens in the first few minutes of the 'film'?" I asked.
At this I ginned, thinking he was making some sort of tongue-in-cheek joke, poking fun at the so-hip demeanor of art house patrons. But when we plopped down our money, he said, "I wouldn't sell you these tickets, but I have to. I don't approve of latecomers."
He sighed. "I can't tell you that. That goes against my entire moviegoing philosophy."
My friends and I exchanged a what-the-hell-is-this glance as the tortured ticket taker, a man who'd obviously sacrificed everything for his art, disdain
I was about to make damn well sure my size 10 Converse arrived on time at a very personal, special part of his anatomy when my friends dragged me into the pitch black theater. We were suddenly so concerned with being discreet that we didn't even sit together. It was impossible to find seats with this kind of pressure. And I couldn't enjoy the movie because my mind was focused on coming up with an adequate insult for art fascist once we exited the movie theatre.
"Excuse me," he whined from behind, and we turned around. "When you enter the theater," he requested, "I would ask that you show a little discretion in choosing your seats. After all, it's pretty full, and, well, the people in there did arrive on time."
Like George Costanza, I was looking for my perfect "jerk store" comeback. Sadly, the best I could think of was, "Did you make this movie? No? Then shut the @#$ up."
fully made change for us. Before we could enter the theater, the wannabe sensitive artist stopped us.
But when my moment of glory came, I chickened out and walked right past him, only to gripe later about our ridiculous exchange, as I'm doing now. I admit it, I'm afraid of confrontation.
But what is it that makes certain people believe they are entitled to drip stodginess from their pores? I've come to expect such haughty aloofness from wine stewards, hotel conciergees and the entire state of New York. When I walk into Brooks Brothers, I expect to be treated slightly better than a piece of used dental floss. But when a two-bit slacker in Missouri making $4.50 an hour believes himself somehow superior to me because I was eight minutes late to a movie, it's time to draw the line.
Lighten up, guy. Just as a consumer has no right to be condescending to the person helping him, no one's job should allow him to feel superior to his customers. If such exchanges are happening in the heart of the Midwest, then they must be happening in every corner of the world. Maybe we should pick up all of Westport and move it to
Jeff Ruby is a Wichita graduate student in journalism.
+
In memory of friends lost, make a difference in life
Knowing so few people, it was that much more surprising to find out one of them had died. It got me thinking about those people in my life who have died, not my father or grandparents, because losing the generations before you is a part of life that you come to expect, but the young people who, like LaTina, were just coming into their own when their lives were cut short. People like my friend Lisa, who died of a childhood disease when she was 19, and who made me laugh. My friend Ruthie, who was murdered in 1992 at the age of 22, and who always made me feel loved. My roommate, Dac, who died of AIDS and
As I read the June 18th issue of the Kansan, I was struck by the common theme running through all of the stories on the front page — death. A theme that was broken only by the picture of a juggler. Two students and one former student who died, and the story about the firefighters' pay, an issue involving the fact firefighters risk their lives every time they go to work, all got me to thinking
I had intended to write something light and somewhat humorous as a counterpoint to my first column. But, as I tried to think of a topic, all I could see was LaTina's face just a few days before she died, as we exchanged a few words in front of the Kansan offices. I didn't have the privilege of knowing her well, but since I'm from Kansas City and I spend my weekends and breaks there, I only know about half a dozen students by name and sight on this campus, and she was one of them. In a way, I knew her better than I know just about anyone else around here.
about the cosmic questions of life, fairness, reasons and what would we leave behind if we died tomorrow.
was buried on the day I started college in 1993. He was younger than I am now. He pissed me off and drove me up the wall, but he always made me think.
I wanted to write for the Kansan, because, as a nontraditional, lesbian student, I didn't see myself reflected in the paper. As a result, I decided that I wanted to be at least one voice for these groups. But just as LaTina could not speak conclusively for all African Americans on campus, I cannot speak for all nontraditional or gay students. So, if you feel you belong to a group that is underrepresented in the Kansan or any other media, or if you feel there is a lack of positive role models for those who come after us, then get off your couch and do something about it.
V. Meredith Toenjes is a Kansas City, Kan., junior in psychology.
I also thought about LaTina, about all the things she had accomplished, all the obstacles she had overcome just to be here, and all the things that she still had to offer. I thought about the things that drove her so hard she neglected her health. And I thought about her family and how I felt sorry for her parents.
And remember to tell them LaTina sent you.
Letter
Later, when I had a chance to read LaTina's articles, I was surprised to find some of the things I'd been thinking about reflected in her own words. She was a positive influence for all the young people who knew her and a voice of a minority group that doesn't always get to see one of its own in print. She was no saint, just a concerned person who made sure to stand up and be counted. This made me think about why I decided to write for the paper, and what I want my life to stand for. So, I've come to this conclusion: The best way to remember those who weren't able to realize all their plans is to try to carry on some of their work.
Live life in an honorable manner, to the fullest, for our departed friends
As I sat and read the June 25th issue of the Kansan, I was overwhelmed. The letters regarding LaTina Sullivan were incredible. I didn't know LaTina. In fact, I had unfortunately never before heard her name. However, I felt like I knew her. You see, my best friend died on June 14th. She too was 23 and meant the world to me.
When I read the outpouring of emotions and regard for LaTina, I realized she and my Amanda were one in the same. Dear, precious souls who's giving natures and bright smiles made the world a better place for the rest of us. So often we see the horror, destruction and negativity in the world in which
we live. We are faced with poverty, war, divorce, hate, abuse and many other unpleasanties that can be overbearing at times.
we oftentimes complain, gripe or lash out at people instead of directing inward, analyzing ourselves and our own strengths and weaknesses, then creating our own positive changes. I am as guilty of this as the next person. However, I want this to change. I want those of you reading this now to look at the positive aspects of your life and others. We are all here for a purpose, to learn from and love one another. It's that simple. No matter your age, race, religion, gender,
income, sexual preference,
career, or number of body
piercings, we are all valuable
and need love.
Please, as a tribute to the beautiful souls like LaTina and my beautiful Amanda Brooke, who knew this and lived their lives in this honorable manner, love your own life and care for all creatures around you. Practice those random acts of kindness and let's all do our part to live our lives like the few glorious souls that recently slipped away. We may not see them, but they are here, and we must live life to the fullest in their honor.
Noelle K. Kurth Dayton, Wyo., senior