4A the university daily kansan
opinion
tuesday,may 11,2004
FACE-OFF
Offensive cartoon not fit for publication
The editorial cartoon was not appropriate for the opinion page and shouldn't have been published.
I understand the singular nature of a political cartoon. It relies on satire and caricature to make a stronger point than could be made with words. For this reason, political cartoons are not judged according to the same standard as opinion columns. Yet, this does not mean that anything goes in this medium; there must be standards.
benei. The Catholic Church teaches, and many KU students believe, that what the faithful receive when they go up to Communion is not unleavened bread and red wine but the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. To replace the Body of Christ with an instrument of violent dismemberment is wildly inappropriate.
The problem with Friday's cartoon was that is was a direct mockery of a central religious belief.
It was suggested that the cartoonist couldn't have made such a strong point had he not mocked the belief in the True Presence.
That might be true, but it is hardly the point. There is a good deal of lip-service paid on this campus to things such as "diversity" and "multiculturalism." Supposedly this is the idea that a wide range of beliefs should be available to students so as to broaden their educational experience outside of the classroom. Respecting religious diversity means not making an outright assault on the central beliefs of a particular faith.
I tried unsuccessfully to get the Kansan to publish an official apology for the cartoon,but the editors made a decision not to do so.
This was frustrating because the cartoon was the single most offensive thing published on the opinion page during my time at the University of Kansas.
I have cause to wonder if a cartoon so odious to other groups on this campus would have ever made it into the paper. We can't simultaneously celebrate diversity and declare open season on the beliefs of the Catholic Church.
Matt Pirotte is a Joplin, Mo., senior in history.
Face-Off is a project of the Kansan editorial board. In this case, the editor of the Kansan and an opinion columnist will argue opposing sides of a hot-button issue that affects students at the University of Kansas.
Readers who have a suggestion for a topic that could be used in Face-Off or wish to join the editorial board, please call Meghan Brune or Johanna M. Maska at 864- 4924. E-mail suggestions to opinion@kansan.com.
This section is designed to help students understand opposing sides of an issue and make informed decisions.
Interviews for the Fall 2004 editorial board will take place this week. Contact the opinion editors if you have not turned in an application.
FACE-OFF
A cartoon that appeared in the April 30 edition of The University Daily Kansan caused discussion between a Kansan columnist and the editor of the Kansan. The cartoon depicted presidential candidate John Kerry and a Catholic bishop.To see the cartoon, go to www.kansan.com.
The editorial cartoon by Zach Newton meets the standard for publication in The University Daily Kansan.
Political depiction sparked discussion
This cartoon would not have met the standard of publication if it was libelous or did nothing to convey a respectful opinion or further discussion.
The cartoon pictured a Catholic bishop giving communion to Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Instead of the host, Kerry is reaching out his hands to receive a coat hanger. Newton was commenting on the recent story that a priest allegedly refused to give Communion to Kerry, who is Catholic, because he is for abortion rights.
The cartoonist, Newton, said the cartoon was not drawn to intentionally upset readers but to draw attention to a topic that wasn't being discussed on campus. Sometimes Newton is assigned to do a certain cartoon for the opinion page; other times, such as in this case, Newton chooses his own topic.
This cartoon met the standards for publication because although it is offensive to some, it creates a strong discourse on campus for discussion. Editorial cartoons are meant to spark dialogue on campus and, in some cases, this is done in a way to grab people's attention.
"When I am assigned to do a cartoon for The University Daily Kansan, I try to think of every angle I could possibly approach the cartoon from," Newton said. "I try to illustrate the main points of a news item, as well as throw in other aspects to make it more interesting, funny or brow-raising. There have been cartoons I have done that I'm sure have raised a few brows and, perhaps, the blood pressure of some readers."
The cartoon has drawn sharp criticism from some members of the Catholic faith.
"I respect the opinions of these readers and respect their commitment to their faith, just as I would expect them to respect my opinion on this issue," said Newton, who is Catholic. "That is why I am an editorial cartoonist on the opinion page."
Michelle Rombeck is a Topeka junior in journalism. She is the editor of the Kansan.
Free for All Call 864-0500
That is a really big taco.
Who has it worse, a chicken or a fish?
Here is a little phrase that when applied properly will make everyone's life easier Say what you mean and mean what you say.
-
Whatever happened to Koosh balls?
-
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.
That is a good-ass sugar cookie.
-
It is Saturday afternoon and there are frat boys in the fountain. God, I love this school
I have a question: Was Milo the cat or the dog?
For more comments, go to www.kansan.com
Who would win a fight between a squirrel and a lobster?
-
You know what I haven't had in a while? Big League Chew.
图
Drunken coffee at IHOP. Drunken coffee at IHOP.
My boyfriend is a lesbian.
Who do you think would win in a fight between a bear and five monkeys with swords?
PERSPECTIVE
Logistics replace romance
Living together, shacking up, living in sin or serial monogamy. Call it what you may, but the days of courting before marriage may be over. People are now turning to a rising trend of cohabitating.
For many, it has become a logical way to save money by sharing everything with their significant other. For others, it is a trial to see if marriage lies in their future.
Popular opinion suggests that living together before marriage is a good idea a sort of trial period. There is, however an ever-growing collection of research data that shed an unfavorable light on cohabitation.
In Patricia Morgan's book, *Marriage-Lite*, she reported that in the mid-1960s, only 5 percent of single women lived with a man before getting married. But by the 1990s, about 70 percent did so.
A recent study done by the U.S. Census Bureau showed that marriages that are preceded by living together have more than a 50 percent higher divorce or separation rate than marriages without premarital cohabitation.
COMMENTARY
Morgan said many women today thought living with a man would automatically turn into marriage, which normally wasn't true.
Kari Zimmerman opinion@kansan.com
In recent years, cohabitation has become the new form of anti-divorce. Today, when the institution of marriage seems to be less revered, and 50 percent of marriages end in divorce, Morgan said, many couples lived together in order to test-drive holy matrimony before they said "I do."
In the 1970s, cohabitation was thought of as the way to be anti-marriage. It was an easy way for couples to share rent, spend time together and not have any sort of commitment.
"Young adults that have grown up in the last 10 to 15 years have had a horrible time dealing with their parent's divorces, custody and so on," Morgan said. "They
takes their place. According to the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University, young people today are more concerned with having fun and making money and are less focused on forming lasting relationships that lead to marriage and raising a family.
are in no hurry to make the same mistakes their parents did."
"It's an appealing one. It's a seductive one. It's a fun one. It saves money. It does a bunch of good things." Dailley said.
Dennis Dailey, professor of social welfare at the University of Kansas, is concerned cohabiting is a substitute for permanent commitment and intimacy.
So, if you're that hopeful person who wants romance the old fashion way, logistics might have you sharing a toothbrush and bank account before sharing the "I dos."
someone into making a "People must learn to honestly talk to their partners and really address the issue as to why they feel they must live together." Dailey said.
Dailey thinks that cohabitation could work for some, but is not a way to trap someone into marriage.
Zimmerman is a Topeka senior in journalism.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Editorial has flawed logic
Check out the editorial's so-called logic for why stealing music is illegal, but OK:
As someone who teaches a class in media ethics, I was distressed by the Kansan's editorial defending the online theft of music.
1. Artists and record companies are disgustingly rich. Using that logic, why not jump in the car and head up to Omaha to burglarize Warren Buffett's house?
2. Such "file-sharing" will always be around. Well, OK, but ditto for crimes such as murder and child abuse. Does that mean it's OK to shoot our teenagers?
3. Most who illegally download music will never get caught. Aah So, if a criminal is successful in the end, the illegal means are irrelevant?
Many may never get caught. However much the Kansan insists they are innocent file sharers, those with a conscience will know what they really are: thieves.
In a moral sense, downloading an album without paying for it is no different from shoplifting the same CD at Best Buy. Outkast may be filthy rich. Some so-called music lovers may continue to steal albums.
The Kansan welcomes letters to the editors and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumni.
Ted Frederickson Journalism professor
students, faculty and staff.
The Kansan reserves the right to edit,
cut to length, or reject all submissions.
Letters to the editor should be no longer
than 200 words and guest columns
should not exceed 650 words. To submit a
letter to the editor or a column, e-mail the
document to opinion@kansan.com with
your name, hometown, year in school or
position and phone number.
TALK TO US
For any questions, call Meghan Brune or Johanna M. Maska at 864-4924 or e-mail at opinion@kansan.com. General questions should be directed to the editor at editor@kansan.com.
KU staff deserves praise
With the semester and the academic year coming to a close, I believe it is necessary to pause and reflect upon all that has been done.
been gone. Throughout the semester we have completed countless tests, written numerous essays, completed projects and watched our men's basketball team reach the Elite Eight. This has been quite the semester.
However, in the midst of all our toil and celebration, we can easily lose sight of the engine that makes this University function.
This engine is not always visible yet without it none of us would have the opportunity attend this fine academic institution.
This engine includes the hundreds of KU employees that perform custodial duties, cook meals, plow the snow, beautify the landscape, drive buses, deliver mail and provide computer services. These jobs are often thankless and even go unseen.
and ever go elsewhere.
There have been issues this year—the Daisy Hill network problems are a good example. Do we recognize that numerous NTS and ResNet employees were spending their days and nights to solve the problem?
the problem The University of Kansas experienced an "abnormal" amount of snow this past winter. While some streets were slow to be cleared, the maintenance personnel worked faithfully to keep our school functioning.
Consider the employees who clean the residence halls each day, the cooks and servers at Mrs. E's, Oliver and GSP Corbin Hall and the building maintenance workers.
the custodial staff at Murphy Hall, for example, arrives at 4 a.m. each day. Some have families to support and are single parents. How often do you thank the custodial staff at Wescoe? Fraser? Budig? Learned? Murphy? etc.
etc. There are so many employees who work hard for us. We ought to be appreciative of their sacrifice.
I would like to personally and publicly thank each employee of KU for their hard work and sacrifice that has enabled me to study at a fine institution.
Thank you
Andrew Farina Warren, Mich., sophomore Piano and trombone
KANSAN
Michelle Rombeck editor
864-4854 or mburhenn@kansan.com
Andrew Vaupel
managing editor
864-4854 or vaupel@kansan.com
Meghan Brune and Johanna M. Maska
opinion editors
864-4924 or opinion@kansan.com
Danielle Bose business manager 864-4358 or addrector@kansan.com
Stephanie Graham retail sales manager 864-4358 or adsales@kansan.com
Matt Fisher sales and marketing adviser 864-7656 or mfisher@kansan.com
Malcolm Gibson
general manager and news adviser
864-7667 or mgibson@kensan.com
Editorial Board Members
Kandall Dix | Lynzee Ford | Laura Francigiovia Amy Hammontteen | Kelly Hollowell | Teresa Loo | Mindy Oborne | Ryan Scarrow | Elizabeth Willy | Paul Whitmoretem | Zach Stinson | Zach Newton | Wes Benson | Sara Behunek | Kevin Flaherty | Brandon Gay | Zack Hemenway Alex Hoffman | Kaw Kimpwirth | Anna Kelly Cameron Koelling | Courtney Kuhian | Brandi Mathiesen | Travis Metcalf | Mike Norris Jonathan Reeder | Erin Riffey | Alma Smith Kari Menzinger