OPINION
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
CRAIG LANG, Editor MARK OZIMEK, Business manager SUSANNA LOOF, Managing editor DENNIS HAUPT, Retail sales manager KIMBERLY CRAFTREE, Editorial editor JUSTIN KNUPI, Technology coordinator TOM EBLEN, General manager, news adviser JAY STEINER, Sales and marketing adviser
Editorials
Renovations make Templin Hall the place to live for KU students
Templin Hall is undergoing renovation, which will make it an icon of modernization in student housing. With the renovations, many students who live in residence halls have shown interest in living on campus next year if they can secure a spot in Templin.
Why rush to Templin instead of other, larger residence halls like McColum and Ellsworth? Some students say that these and other halls are not up to their standards of living.
But modernizing Templin is the first step in a long residence hall renovation project that will incorporate every residence hall and change the image of residence halls being dilapidated.
Some students indicate that one year is more than enough to spend in a residence hall. But these students' eyes are beginning to open at the prospect of living in a modern, renovated residence
The key to keep and attract students to residence halls is renovation.
hall. These same students who once were filled with a sense of urgency to move off campus are now thinking about living in a residence hall for another year.
Ken Stoner, director of Student Housing, said that the interest students had shown in Templin Hall was natural. After all, Templin will be newly remodeled with all the latest features.
But Stoner said it was wrong to conclude that students were showing interest in Templin because the other residence halls were seen as poor living environments.
Students have shown that they want
upgraded residence halls, and they seem willing to pay for them. Templin will cost from $4,700 to $4,860 compared to $3,736 to $4,644 for other residence halls.
Stoner said that Templin was just the first residence hall to be renovated. Lewis Hall will follow and eventually the list will include all residence halls. Stoner said that these renovations were aimed to raise the standards.
The Housing Department is on the right track. The way to keep students in residence halls and to attract new students to these halls is to improve their physical conditions. Only a fraction of students return to live in residence halls for a second year.
But if students are convinced that the department is sincere in its efforts in improving the quality of living in residence halls, then more students may be enticed to stay.
NICK ZALLER FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Realities of HIV outlast college years
Spring is here and most of our thoughts are focused on the end of the semester. For some, this means graduation and life after college. For others it means a break.
What are your plans for semester's end? What do you intend to do during your summer break? Did anyone say, "Catch the HIV virus?" Of course not.
But for many college-aged people, this may be the reality.
Every year, thousands of people contract this virus and thousands more die of AIDS-related illnesses. By now, everyone should know the risks of unprotected sex, yet thousands of people still engage in risky behavior every day.
One of the follies of youth tends to be the "it can't happen to me" mind set. A condom provides some protection, but neither love nor youth can protect you
Watkins Health Center offers diagnosis and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases.
The last time you had sex, how many people were you with? Did you say just one? Are you sure? The truth is, if you had unprotected sex, you had sex with everyone your partner ever has had sex with, everyone his or her partner had sex with and so on. This means you may have been sleeping with half the state of Kansas, and possibly a few other states as well. Time to get a bigger bed.
The fact is that most or all of the HIV tests available don't test for the actual presence of the virus. They test for antibodies that attack the virus. After contracting the HIV virus, it takes the body at least three to six months to develop these antibodies. That means you may have the virus and still test negative. Just having sex once with an infected partner can give you this deadly disease.
Someone out there is probably saying, "Well, both of us had HIV tests and they came out negative."
from this virus. Although the only truly safe sex is abstinence, few people consider this a viable option.
But HIV and AIDS aren't the only threat sexually active people face. Gonorrhea, herpes and chlamydia are only a few examples of diseases that can be contracted after only one sexual experience. These diseases can be treated, but not all can be cured.
So be safe. Know your partner. Wear a condom or have your partner wear one. Giving up your life for a little added sensation is not a fair trade.
KANSAN STAFF
NEWS EDITORS
V. MEREDITH TOENJES FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
LATINA SULLIVAN . . . Associate Editorial
KRISTIE BLASI . . . News
NOVELDA SOMMERS . . . News
LESLEY TAYLOR . . . News
AMANDA TRAUGIBER . . News
TARA TRENARY . . . News
DAVID TESKA . . . Online
SPENCER DUNCAN . . Sports
GINA THORNBURG . . Associate Sports
BRADLEY BROOKS . . Campus
LINDESE HENRY . . Campus
DAVE BRETTENSTEIN . Features
PAM DISHIMAN . Photo
TYLER WIRKEN . Photo
BRYAN VOLK. . Design
ANDY ROHRBACK . Graphics
ANDREA ALBRIGHT . Wire
LZ MUSSER . Special sections
AERICA VAZEY . News clerk
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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.
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All letter and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom. 111 Staufer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Kik Crabtree (opinion@kansan.com) or LaTina Sullivan (sullivan@kansan.com) at 864-4810.
Column
Gun-toter wants her weapon in plain view
typically I am not concerned with fashion accessories. I'm satisfied if my shoes match and my Redskins cap is handy. However, I've heard about a delightful item I am certain will enhance my wardrobe. This little jewel of fashion is a purse with a specially designed compartment for a handgun.
If the current bill legalizing concealed weapons passes muster in the Kansas House, it potentially could become law. And oh, the places I may go with my new baby Glock in my handy-dandy purse.
The bill made it through the House, barely scraped by the Senate, and has passed conference committee. It now is on the shoulders of Gov. Bill Graves who has hinted, thankfully, that he probably
will yeto it. But this is jumping ahead of the tale.
will veto it. But this is jumping ahead of the tax. Current law allows me, as a law-abiding gun toter, to carry my Smith & Wesson on my land, in my house and into my business. The new law would allow me to carry my gun hidden on my person or in my groovy new purse almost anywhere. I would still face a few restrictions. For instance, I couldn't legally carry it into a school or a bar. The law would still require a background check, and I would have to pass a long list of qualifications, as well as a training course.
A key bone of contention for Graves, and perhaps his reason for hinting at a vet, is that the new law would potentially preempt city ordinances about concealed weapons. Graves favors letting localities maintain ordinances conducive to the will of citizens in those areas. I am conservative, as are many of the supporters of the bill who stand on a party platform of returning the power to the people. Myriad polls show that
Kansans are not overwhelmingly in favor of legalizing concealed weapons. When an attempt was made to put the issue on the November 1988 ballot so Kansans could voice their opinions, it was shot down.
A comprehensive study by a University of Chicago researcher indicated that if every state legalized concealed weapons, crime would fall significantly.
Realizing that I could pay a desperate researcher to find proof that I was the pilot of the UFO supposedly tailing the Hale-Bopp comet, I tend to be leery of such studies. Although his research was extensive, a simple bit of logic seems to refute his theory. How could it suddenly become a kinder, gentler nation if every moron over the age of 21 who had not yet been busted for committing a felony, was allowed to pack a .357 magnum? I believe in the Constitutional right to self-defense. I understand that law enforcement is not omnipotent and cannot defend the world alone.
But I fail to see how arming the planet will enhance public safety.
I enjoy shooting guns. The thrill of the bang, the liberating feeling of obliterating the skeet, the excitement of holding a weapon capable of such destruction is invigorating. In fact, I almost joined the National Rifle Association. However, I still cannot advocate a law allowing such a proliferation of weapons.
Lawrence has prohibited carrying concealed weapons since 1863. If this bill, which now is being considered by Graves, is signed into law, Lawrence's ordinance will no longer apply.
I'm glad I'm graduating this semester so I can "get out of Dodge" before every 21-year-old with an attitude starts packing heat.
Sabrinha Sgeele is an Overland Park senior in political science.
Guest column
GTAC push profitless, shortsighted contract
It is time for a little perspective on the debate between the Graduate Teaching Assistant Coalition and the University administration. A rival point of view from a graduate teaching assistant, whose interest the union claims to represent, is needed.
GTAC's agenda demands a contract, before the school year's end, that would guarantee health care benefits, working conditions and regular cost-of-living benefits. No one considers the potential consequences if the University meets these demands.
Before examining the consequences, let's consider the demands themselves, particularly insurance benefits. The two most common justifications for providing GTAs with free insurance coverage are: health insurance costs and the assertion that GTAs would be more effective teachers if they were not burdened with health care concerns.
Nonsense. In addition to free tuition and a monthly income, about $900 for a half-time appointment, GTAs are eligible for need-based student loans, which have interest rates beginning at 5 percent. If health insurance is important, then we should be willing to pay for it like the rest of the student body. Regarding the second justification, I think most would agree that an adult should be capable of handling such "mental anguish," especially when a solution is readily available.
Working conditions, the second item on the agenda, is a fancy way of promising a class size. Smaller classes are better. I agree. However, guaranteeing class size will require one of two things. They will have to limit the number of students who can enroll and cause classes to close even faster. The other option is to increase the
Costs incurred meeting these demands are the crux of the problem. Many GTAs are awaiting financing decisions for next year. If GTAC wins the contract battle, a large portion of the money used to meet its demands will come from GTA financing. As a result, GTA jobs will be cannibalized. Not only will GTA lose funding, but unfinanced graduate students will have even less hope of receiving future funding.
Undergraduates also will suffer. I am certain that more than a few undergraduates aren't thrilled with the ratio of students per GTA. Large and numerous sections are not conducive to carrying out the University's educational mission. Students in need of extra help may be put particularly at risk. If GTAC demands anything, it should demand additional financing for additional GTAs, not extra benefits for existing ones.
Guaranteed yearly cost-of-living increases seem reasonable, but their importance is questionable. Most graduate students do not go on for their Ph.D.s. Salary increases based on time spent teaching are important, but unless a graduate student is spending an exorbitant number of years in a program, regular cost-of-living increases are a luxury, not a necessity.
GTAC's demands are shortsighted. Given the fact that most graduate students are not funded and, of those who are, many are not members of GTAC, the coalition's demands appear to be extremely self-serving. GTAs who argue for these benefits in The University Daily Kansan often emphasize that we have faculty responsibilities. Meeting GTAC's demands will interfere with the most important of these responsibilities — teaching.
number of GTAs. Doing the latter will require more money, which is already in short supply for graduate students and would which would be needed to fulfill other GTAC demands.
Earl Stuart is an Omaha, Neb., graduate student in political science.
Letter E-mail is students' personal business
For those of you who read my e-mail on the state of basketball seating in Allen Field House, I am back to respond to an attack on another thing that I love dearly—e-mail.
I couldn't believe what I read in The University Daily Kansan on April7. I think that I have missed something. Obviously, those who have proposed this e-mail policy didn't pay attention when a judge ruled that the now-remotely obscure Telecommunications Act was unconstitutional, or maybe they just didn't learn anything from that situation.
I can't believe that someone in this supposedly open-minded and liberal University would think that they could
impose such a thing on a collection of exceptionally intelligent students.
Granted, repeated incidents of harassing e-mail should be taken care of, just like harassing phone calls would be investigated, but that should be the absolute limit. If a group of people want to have an ongoing discussion about politics, sex, racism or other topics, they should be allowed to without any restrictions other than what they place on themselves. If I wanted to tell a friend what I thought about a candidate's political stance, I should be able to. If a GTA wants to write torrid, erotic e-mail to his girlfriend across campus, that's no one's business but their own.
No new policy is needed to monitor harassing e-mail. We don't need to give anyone any more control than they already
have.
The mission of the University is to pass on knowledge, stimulate individual and original thought and be a free market for the discussion of ideas. If these things are infringed upon, no other thing that the "mission" proposes is relevant. This proposed plan is hazardous to that exchange and is by far dangerous to the mission of this University than unpopular ideas.
I appeal to all of you out there who use the University's Internet services—do not let this pass lightly. Put it to a vote. The students occasionally are granted a referendum and allowed to decide for themselves what is in their own best interest.
Jared Grillot Parsons senior