4A the university daily kansan opinion Free forAll 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. For more comments, go to www.kansan.com Now I have to suck in before I button my jeans. Damn it. --been referred to their appropriate committees and are now waiting. Both bills would amend the Communications Act of 1934. And on the eighth day God said, "Ah man, it's Monday." been referred to their appropriate committees and are now waiting. Both bills would amend the Communications Act of 1934. Is it just me or is Delta Delta Delta a Victoria's Secret show waiting to happen? been referred to their appropriate committees and are now waiting. Both bills would amend the Communications Act of 1934. I like lesbians. Now if I can get them to like me back. been referred to their appropriate committees and are now waiting. Both bills would amend the Communications Act of 1934. How do you keep a Pollock in suspense? been referred to their appropriate committees and are now waiting. Both bills would amend the Communications Act of 1934. God save the queen. I love Elton John. been referred to their appropriate committees and are now waiting. Both bills would amend the Communications Act of 1934. Damn, it's windy outside. To the girl in my journalism class from France: You have a really hot accent. been referred to their appropriate committees and are now waiting. Both bills would amend the Communications Act of 1934. When is KU going to sponsor a naked mile run? Really, come on. been referred to their appropriate committees and are now waiting. Both bills would amend the Communications Act of 1934. I am never drinking Dr. Pepper again. 9 Is it just me or does Donald Trump overestimate his coolness? 图 I just enrolled in less than five minutes. That must be some kind of record. 回 What's up with all of these purple trees around here? Are we at K-State? monday, april 19,2004 been referred to their appropriate committees and are now waiting. Both bills would amend the Communications Act of 1934. Mizzou sucks been referred to their appropriate committees and are now waiting. Both bills would amend the Communications Act of 1934. Coming to KU made me an instant loser. been referred to their appropriate committees and are now waiting. Both bills would amend the Communications Act of 1934. I like you like a fat kid likes carrots. Think about it. been referred to their appropriate committees and are now waiting. Both bills would amend the Communications Act of 1934. Delta Force kids are bad, bad in bed. The math department is a joke. PERSPECTIVE PERSPECTIVE Costly concerts not for students Steve Sack for KRT Concert season is beginning, but you won't be going to see any mainstream acts unless you're prepared to dish out some cash. Paying a little is no big deal, but what about when tickets are upwards of $55 as they are for the majority of mainstream acts this season? COMMENTARY The price of concert tickets has increased in the past seven years and the trend may continue if consumers do not do something about it. According to a National Public Radio news story, in 1994,the average ticket price was $25,in 2002 the average was $46.Both the House of Representatives and Senate are reviewing legislation to keep the cost of concerts reasonable. Last year the average concert ticket cost $50.35, but some top tours were raking in big bucks from their ticket sales. The average ticket price for a Rolling Stones concert last year was $200. Alea Smith opinion@kansan.com Madonna's summer tour hits the road with tickets at all venues ranging from $45 to $300 and this does not include the service charges. Critics cite one reason for the increases as scalpers. Ray Waddell. Some shows have lower prices but are still not cheap. Dave Matthews Band was the fourth top grossing act in 2001 bringing in $77.7 million in concert revenue. This summer's tour kicks off June 17 and has 45 shows scheduled. Tickets for their Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Bonner Springs, performance range from $35 to $55. In Los Angeles,the concert is general admission and all tickets are $58. A few representatives that have heard complaints of this monopoly are trying to do something about it. Two bills have been proposed to do this; both have With Ticketmaster as the major ticket distributor and many of the aspects of live music being controlled by corporations that have their hand in concert industry revenue, it is no wonder live music is becoming such a monopoly. Amusement Business Magazine told MSNBC.com that "scalpers are routinely getting three, four, five times the face value of the ticket." In this instance it is greed prompting the promoters to keep up. Another reason cited points the finger at major media corporations. Corporations such as Clear Channel Entertainment, the largest concert promotion company in the country, owns 1,200 radio stations, more than 700,000 billboards and controls numerous venues across the United States. Clear Channel also takes in more than 60 percent of concert industry revenue. The first bill, proposed by Sen. Russ Beigold (D-Wis.) and Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) would curb concentration in the media marketplace to promote diversity of information and bring down high ticket prices. These bills, being proposed in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, were sent to committee in 2003 where they have remained. where they have remained. The other bill, proposed by U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) would prevent excessive ownership concentration of media outlets. This amendment would limit radio and cable broadcast ownership, which in turn would affect the sale and distribution of concert tickets. This bill was proposed in the House of Representatives on March 30. Since then, it has been passed on to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. for all three proposed legislations there has been no schedule posted to determine the time they will be discussed, so it is up to supporters of live music to push for legislators to support these bills. Supporting artists by going to concerts is always something to be enjoyed, but while we are supporting them we need to make sure that the companies controlling them are not taking advantage of us. Smith is a Kansas City, Mo., senior in journalism. PERSPECTIVE Internet changing our generation's news, shouldn't kill traditional newspapers Ah, the good old days. I was quite young, but I still remember a time when people wrote letters to each other. I remember the simple joy felt upon receiving one in the mail. It was nice, something that said, "Hey, I took some time out of my busy day to sit down and write you just for the heck of it." and write what happened. The letters waned. I can't pinpoint an exact date and time, but it was definitely in the early 1990s, coincidentally about the same time that I'd heard about this new technology called "the Internet." Before long, the letters stopped all together. Email had arrived. For all the positives that the Internet has created in our society, I'll always remember my lack of letters as the embodiment of everything that's wrong with it. For a country like ours that moves so quickly, one where fortunes are made and lost in seconds, the Internet is ideal. This is why it became so popular. Slowly, and sadly, it became the primary way that people communicate. It's taken some time, but I've come to accept COMMENTARY Kevin Kampwirth opinion@kansan.com sight. newspapers A study released last week by the Project for Excellence in Journalism shows that newspaper circulation is dramatically lower than it was in 1990, largely because of a growing interest in online news sites. As someone who likes to read newspapers, this concerns me. As a journalist, it scares the hell out of me. If the trend continues, which it Now, more than 10 years after the Internet effectively put an end to letter-writing forever, it has its next victim in sight: newspapers. this as a cold, hard fact of life. We live in a society run by computers, so we, in turn, are run by computers. I know the day is coming when the newspaper as we know it will no longer exist. Clearly. The study found that since 1990, newspaper circulation is down 11 percent and that newspapers employ 2,200 fewer people today than they did then. Suddenly, May graduation isn't looking as appealing as it once did. almost certainly will, is it possible that the newspaper as we know it may become extinct? "We're in a period of change an dislocation," Tom Rosenstiel, the project's director, said. "Clearly, some of the older media are suffering." All right. I'll be the first to admit that getting news from online sites, such as usatoday.com, is much easier. I do it every day. In fact, online news surpasses newspapers in a few ways. It's much faster and the sites are always getting updated so the reader has the most current information. It's tough for traditional newspapers to compete with. Still, when it comes down to it, I'm reaching for the real thing. There's just something about sitting down and reading a newspaper that's satisfying. Even just holding one is satisfying; the smell of the paper, the newsprint that rubbing off onto my hands. It's an opportunity to relax, if only for five or 10 minutes, and to find out about what's going on in the world. Most importantly, it provides a much-needed break from staring at a computer screen. For all my reasoning and passion, though, I'm not naive enough to remain naive. Some daily newspapers are already going under from a lack of circulation. I know the day is coming when the newspaper as we know it will no longer exist. It is, as mentioned earlier, a cold, hard fact of life. The (insert city name here) times they are a-changin'. To an online format. Kampwirth is a Chicago senior in journalism. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR No liberty in online voting Online voting undermines liberty The election process was unfair. Did anyone else notice this? At Ms. E's last Wednesday, I noticed one young man hovering over another young man's shoulder while the latter filled in a database with his name, KUID and vote. One person watching another person vote. This is unacceptable. So, someone told me that no one could hack into the data base and find out how I voted by way of KUID number, but come on, give me a break. After two hackings of University computers in two years, it is clear online is not completely safe. I want and demand my privacy. At this rate, we should just vote caucus style. And what happened to confidentiality? Why did I have to type in my KUID right before I voted? Voting is supposed to be the one thing I can keep completely to myself and no one, no matter what, can find out how I voted unless I tell them. It has been and should always be my choice to disclose my vote. We have a problem at the University. Here, on our campus, we have the liberty to dye our hair green, wear duct tape trousers and the funky chicken dance in drag. However, we do not have the liberty to vote privately in a voting booth on a hand-counted paper ballot. I appreciate the Internet as much as the next student. But, databases, no matter how much security is encoded, can be hacked. Your information is attainable. I demand that I have a paper ballot in the upcoming national election, and I will not put my name or my number on that ballot. And I will know that my ballot will be counted and recounted, but never downloaded. My liberty will be reassured when I drop that ballot into that box; no one but me will know what it says. That is freedom. Smoke vote needs research, don't ban, find compromise I strongly encourage readers on both sides of the issue, as citizens of Lawrence, to contact your elected officials in the City Commission to voice either your opposition or support for this ban. I e-mailed the city commissioners to voice my opposition to the ban, but I also recommended a compromise. I suggested the city could offer a tax incentive to businesses that go "smoke free," while letting other establishments continue to serve their clientele as they wish. Tosha Jansen-Conkey Lane senior McCollum Hall Resident Japanese & Religious Studies I agree non-smokers should be able to enjoy smoke-free establishments. However, a widespread ban will alienate patrons whose only safe haven to smoke indoors are those bars and restaurants that choose to allow smoking. You can contact the commissioners at their e-mail addresses listed here: The proposed ban on smoking in Lawrence bars and restaurants now holds majority support in the City Commission. As a student and a smoker I feel my voice has been overlooked by the commission. Mayor Mike Rundle mike@mikerundle.org Vice-Mayor Dennis "Boog" High berger b059@juno.com Commissioner David Dunfield Commissioner Sue Hack: suck@unflower.com Commissioner David Schauner: dschauer@sunflower.com Chris Pumpelly Wichita sophomore He is the creative director of advertising at the Kansan. TALK TO US The Kansan welcomes letters to the editors and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumni. KANSAN Michelle Rombeck editor 884-4854 or mburhenn@kansan.com The Kansan reserves the right to edit submissions for content and size. For any questions, call Meghan Brune or Johanna M. Maska at 864-4924 or email opinion@kansan.com. Andrew Vaupel managing editor 864-4854 or vaupel@kansan.com Meghan Brune and Johanna M. Meska opinion editors 864-4924 or opinion@kansan.com Danielle Bose business manager 884-4358 or adddirector@kansan.com Stephanie Graham retail sales manager 864-4358 or adsaela@kansan.com Malcolm Gibson general manager and news adviser 864-7667 or mgibson@kansan.com Matt Fisher sales and marketing adviser 864-7866 or mfisher@kansan.com Editorial Board Members Editorial Board Members Kendall Dix | Lynzee Ford | Laura Francoviglia Amy Hammontree | Kelly Hallowell | Teresa Lo Mindy Osborne | Ryan Scarrow | Elizabeth Willy | Paul Whittmore | Zach Stinson | Zach Newton | Wes Benson | Sara Behnke | Kevin Flaherty | Brandon Gay | Zack Hemneyway Alex Hoffman | Kauw Kimpaw | Amy Kelly Cameron Koelling | Courtney Kuhlen | Brandi . Mattheisen Travis volumn ... Jorn Kusner Ein Erliffe Alex Smith