4A the university daily kansan
opinion
BUDGET OVERVIEW: A 'KANSAN' SERIES
friday, april 9, 2004
'Budget overview'in wrap Support higher education
The University of
OUR VIEW
An economic downturn has caused problems for funding higher education. However, it is education that could help the future of the economy. Kansas must keep education funding a priority.
Kansas' budget reflects the nationwide economic downturn of the past few years.
As highlighted in this week's editorial series, "Budget overview", some of these changes include tapping into restricted fees to fund salary increases and using tuition dollars to fund enhancements such as technology and financial aid.
As a way of getting by in lean financial times, the University and state government have had to come up with some creative solutions for the money crunch.
The measures the University is going to however, are not as drastic as those of
some other Big 12 conference public institutions. The University of Colorado, in light of dwindling support from state funds, is facing the prospect of privatization within the next decade.
Could the University be in the same position in the future?
Kansas' governor and The Legislature need to commit themselves to higher education. They must go beyond simple lip-service and come up with the cash.
Tuition increases are not a substitute to regular funding. It is counter-productive to apply $8.6 million raised from increases toward enhancements unless there is already a strong base upon which to build.
Much like tuition increases, restricted fees are not a suitable place for the legislature to look to cover their part of funding.
Restricted fees are just that restricted. Each was raised specifically for one purpose, such as money for the Student Fitness Recreation Center or Hilltop Child Development. The Legislature is tapping into these restricted fees to fund a
3 percent salary increase this year.
It is imperative that this does not happen again. As a one-time action, using restricted fees is a temporary Band-Aid. It would be a dangerous precedent, draining money from deserving programs.
Zach Stinson for The University Daily Kansan
The state government needs to keep its end of the bargain to fund the salary increase after this year, and resolve to leave restricted fees alone.
Check out the Kansan Web site, www.kansan.com for more on the budget.
Renowned radio voice, an aging tradition
PERSPECTIVE
I can't remember the first time I heard Max Falkenstien on the radio. Then again, people much older than I am can't remember a time when he wasn't on the radio.
COMMENTARY
Falkenstien, the legendary voice of the Jayhawks for football and men's basketball, celebrates his 80th birthday tomorrow. But what's even more remarkable is that with the University of Kansas regional final loss to Georgia Tech March 28, he wrapped up his 58th season behind the Jayhawk Network microphone. To keep a job for 20 years is an achievement in itself, but having one for almost three times that span is enviable.
It's amazing to sit and reflect on Falkenstein's radio career. He has seen it all in Kansas athletics. He called games during the national championship season in 1952. He hosted a half-hour radio show with Wilt Chamberlain called Flippin' with the Dipper during Chamberlain's college career. He saw Allen Fieldhouse being built and, idolized the man for which the building was named. He covered two
Alex Hoffman opinion@hansan.com
Orange Bowls that featured the Jayhawks in 1948 and 1969.
Through all of the successes and failures, through all of the coaching changes, through the yearly turnover in athletes, Falkenstien has been a constant. His warm, instantly recognizable voice, his brimming optimism and his infinite knowledge have made loyal fans turn down the TV volume to listen to a friend.
Falkenstien has been a hard-working man aside from the radio gig. He was at WREN radio as program and station manager for 12 years and then switched to television as the head of news and
sports at WIBW in Topeka for four years. After a year as general manager of Sunflower Cablevision, he worked at Douglas County Bank for 22 years until his retirement as senior vice president in December 1994.
For the past 21 years, Bob Davis has been his fantastic play-by-play sidekick. Max and Bob are the only broadcast team I've ever known for KU sports. Their on-air chemistry is special, from Bob's approving "yessir" of an astute Max observation to calling each other "brother."
The best time to listen to Max and Bob is when the game has long been decided, because they start to loosen up a little. I remember one time when a questionable foul was called and, in his subtle humor and adept use of Shakespeare, Falkenstien said, "Looks like something's rotten in Denmark." Davis couldn't stop laughing for almost a minute.
There's a certain comfort in knowing Falkenstien will be on the radio dial. When he unfortunately has to miss a game or two — this isn't a slight
to his replacements — it just isn't the same. I need to hear him wrap up a postgame interview with coach Bob Self with the familiar, "OK, Bob, that's the story from the head man. We'll switch 'er over to you." It's a tradition.
That's why it's going to be so strange when Falkenstien does decide to walk away from his familiar seat at press row. It would be difficult to hear anyone else alongside Davis because his easy-going, congenial delivery is so refreshing. While other color commentators settle for motor-mouthed bombast, Falkenstien refrains from all of that. He connects us to our past, paints a picture on the action that we all can understand, and heck, even points out the famous people who are in the arena during a time out.
Happy birthday, Max, from every Kansas fan who has had the pleasure of listening to you for the last 58 years. I hope to hear your voice for many more games to come.
Hoffman is an Overland Park senior in journalism.
MUSIC OF MY MIND
International sensitivity essential to times
"I think the whole world's addicted to the drama..." — Black Eyed Peas, "Where is the Love?" from the 2003 album, Elephunk
As the 9/11 commission digs deeper in its search for the causes of Sept. 11, the United States has found itself transfixed by the suspense of what could emerge as one of the more fascinating public examinations of government in recent years.
As intriguing as one may find this commission's search, and whatever findings it may uncover about what happened, we are left with the grim reality that the same potential that existed in those months before that September exists now. Coloring that potential yellow, orange, or red with our various and cryptic terror alert codes does nothing but add to the drama of this opera that seems more like a failed Tom Clancy novel each day.
Frequently Clancy's protagonists are solo artists. They generally learn of a terrorist threat and with the help of a small, elite team of people saves the United States and, in many cases, the world from major acts of aggression. In the most heated moments of Clancy's art, the world's fate of absolute triumph or of stark disaster is often decided in the last
COMMENTARY
Cornelius Minor opinion@kansan.com
That's not how it works in our world. When one considers President George W. Bush, Richard Clarke, former foreign policy adviser, President Clinton, Condalleza Rice, national security adviser and others, there are no heroes in our cast of characters. But it's important to note that there are no villains among them either. It is not any one person's job to save us from the types of people that we have problematically labeled as terrorists; consequently, it is no one's fault that 2,978 people died on American soil as a result of terrorism in 2001.
When we seek to understand the root causes of events such as the attacks on Sept. 11, we cannot begin to do so with-
moments by the heroic actions of a single person.
out laboring to understand the role that the United States plays in global politics. As the most powerful nation on the planet, we have an immense responsibility to all of our neighbors.
In global terms, that means making basic human rights a top priority. No one anywhere should ever want for adequate food, safety, shelter and access to education. Global history has been bloodied with examples of what happens when those things have been denied. Hopes for global peace must be rooted in hopes for economic and political inclusion.
Our role as a nation is much like the role of an older sibling in a family. It is not our job to completely carry the burdens of other countries, but we are somewhat responsible for making sure that those younger siblings among us can stand and prosper on their own and that they can communicate candidly—without fear of retribution—with one another and with us.
For those who have ideas that are not in line with dominant Western thought, such inclusion remains an elusive dream. Such states often find themselves bombed or sanctioned to death. The United States has, with its might, closed many lines of international discussion.
For small nations and the political groups within those nations, it has become near impossible to make a statement against the United States. When dialogue fails, even if groups in particular countries wanted to war with the United States, most cannot even bear the cost of entering Geneva-sanctioned conflict. For many of those whom we call terrorists, extreme violence is the only way that they can be heard.
Countering terrorism is going to require a new international sensitivity on the part of Americans. I seriously doubt that we could have seen 9/11 coming, but if we knew more about the non-Western world — anything about the multiple hardships suffered, if we knew of the lives lost daily, of the empty stomachs, of the dreams that lie shattered here and in countries all over the globe, and if we knew of people's desperate and maddening desire to be free of those things — we would have known that the possibility of a 9/11 was always present. I certainly hope that it's safe to say that we know now.
Minor is an Atlanta graduate student in American studies. He is a co-host of Voice Activated, 7:30 p.m. Thursday on JKHK.
Free for All Call 864-0500
For more comments, go to www.kansan.com
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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.
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Going through the enrollment process makes me wish that KU was a person so that I can beat the crap out of it.
The student body president is shady.
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You know it's going to be a good day when Dave Chapelle is on the front page of the Kansan.
You know it's awesome when two sexy girls can lay out on their roof in April.
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I just ate a tube of lipstick. Is that toxic?
Why have all of the Free For Alls been so clean lately? I miss the dirty Free For Alls.
Online enrollment sucks so much booty that if it sucked anymore we would have to call it KUnited.
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Happy birthday Sally. I love you.
Jayhawk balls are bigger than tiger balls.
Why is it called Taco Tuesday at Taco John's when everyday is taco day.
I wish I looked like Bart Simpson because he is hot.
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I would like to make a noise complaint on room 507.
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There are so many idiots walking around on campus today.
It's just wrong when they have hunting commercials on Animal Planet.
KANSAN
Michelle Rombeck editor
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Andrew Vaupel
managing editor
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opinion editors
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business manager
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general manager and news adviser
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Matt Flaher
sales and marketing adviser
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Editorial Board Members
Kendall Dix® Lynzee Ford
Laura Francoviglia® Anna Gregory
Amy Hammontree® Kelly Hollowley® Teresa Lo®
Mindy Osborne® Greg Holmquist® Ryan
Scarrow® Elizabeth Wilih® Sara Behnuk
Kevin Flaherty® Brandon Gay® Zack Hemerway
Alex Hoffman® Kevin Kampwirth® Amy Kelly
Cameron Koelling® Courtney Kuhlen® Brandi
Matheusen® Travis Metcalf® Mike Norris
Jonathan Reeder® Erin Riffle® Alea Smith
Kari Zimmerman
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