4A the university daily kansan
opinion
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BUDGET OVERVIEW: A "KANSAN" SERIES
wednesday, april 7, 2004
Legislature shouldn't short-change faculty, staff
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' proposal to give state employees a 3 percent pay increase is an innovative, if imperfect, plan to make good on a state promise to its employees.
The 3 percent pay increase will be distributed to KU faculty and staff. The money for the pay increase will come from cuts in other areas of the University's budget.
While this may seem like a "robbing Peter to pay Paul" approach to budgeting, the cuts will be in areas of the University's budget that maintain an annual net surplus, making a one-time cut absorbable.
Sebelius' promise is that these are one time cuts and in the future the employees' pay increase will be maintained by the
In 1999, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 345, a promise to support faculty and staff salary increases. It hasn't upheld its promise, and salaries have remained stagnant. It is vital that a state University pay faculty and staff competitive rates. Legislators: Fund SB 345.
OURVIEW
state.Her hope is the state will be able to take on the burden of the increases in the future with an improving economic climate in the state.
While cutting the University's budget to fund salary increases sets a potentially dangerous precedent, it breaks an even more dangerous one: not giving salary
A 1999 law, Senate Bill 345, promised money for annual salary increases. However, because of a tight state budget, the employees have not received their raises the previous two years.
Chancellor Robert Hemenway, who supports the governor's funding recommendations, welcomes the increase.
increases at all
"I am grateful that the governor has provided for a general 3 percent salary increase for KU employees," Hemenway said in his testimony before the Senate
Not only does giving the increase help the employees manage rising health-care costs and other costs of living, it helps the University attract better pools of talent from all over the country.
Ways and Means Committee's Higher Education Subcommittee in February. "Such an increase is a welcome signal to all faculty and staff, after a couple of very lean years, that their efforts are appreciated by the people of Kansas."
Tax increases may be a better solution to meeting the promises outlined by Senate Bill 345. However, with a legislature hesitant to raise taxes, the governor has come up with a compromise that fulfills the legislature's promise of salary increases.
That's one promise met, one promise to go. Finding a way to fund the salary increase next year without cutting the University's budget is a final test that will show whether Sebelius is a governor of her word.
PERSPECTIVE
'Under God' not under constitutional law
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
COMMENTARY
Travis Metcal
opinion@kansan.com
This simple pledge of support for the United States is up for examination at the Supreme Court. And it's there for good reason, the two words: "under God."
Michael New-
dow is an atheist
who wants his
daughter's school to
be a God-free zone.
Newdow doesn't want his child to have to say the pledge in school because of those two words, and the California 9th Circuit Court of Appeals agrees. Now it is in the Sands of the Supreme Court.
Newdow is right. The Pledge of Allegiance should not contain that phrase.
Steve Sack for KRT
Separation of church and state means that the government cannot get involved with religious affairs. And that phrase implies that our government is a religious entity, not a secular one.
The original pledge was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Christian Socialist.
Baer said Bellamy's original words to the pledge of allegiance were, "I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
According to The Pledge of Allegiance: A Short History by John W. Baer, Francis wrote the pledge to express his socialist ideals. It was intended to represent "how the middle class could create a planned economy with political, social and economic equality for all."
The words "my flag" got changed to "the flag of the United States of America" in 1923 and 1924.
Then the controversial words "under God" were added by a unanimous legislia-
ture and with the endorsement of President Dwight David Eisenhower in June 1954.
Baer said the change made the pledge both a patriotic oath and a public praver.
The year was also a time when people in this country were fearful of communism. The change was adopted by the legislature to deny the atheistic concept of communism.
When the new words were added, Eisenhower proclaimed, "Millions of schoolchildren will daily proclaim in every city and town ... the dedication of our nation and our people of the Almighty."
So there we have it, government sanctioned religion even though, according to historian David Greenberg, the founders had no intention of incorporating God in government.
The word "God" isn't found anywhere in the Constitution. And the only mention of religion is that people have the freedom to practice it and that religion won't be used to determine whether people can hold office.
Greenberg also notes that Benjamin Franklin's proposal during the Constitutional Convention that the founders start
each day with a prayer to God for guidance, his suggestion was defeated.
But now, in order to pledge their support to their country, atheists have to acknowledge a God or they are considered unpatriotic.
The founders of our country intended this to be a place where anyone should feel welcome, including the non-religious. Let's honor their wishes and support prohibition of the phrase "under God" from the Pledge.
Metcalf is a Wichita senior in journalism.
PERSPECTIVE
Extracurriculars help with job-search
By now everyone has heard how great extracurricular activities are. They promote leadership, social skills and are a good time. But did you also know that they can be extremely influential when employers are looking for that next great hire?
Like the high school students who applies for colleges with the words National Honor Society printed across his resume, college students with extra activities are a sought after commodity.
COMMENTARY
Picture this: You're an employer with a choice between two candidates. One has a 3.6 grade point average, while the other has a 3.0. But while Student No. 1 has better grades and spent his time studying, Student No. 2 was president of the business fraternity and actually worked within her field of choice.
In this case, Jennifer Jordan, director of KU, business career services, said
Potentially even more so than students with high grades.
Kevin Flaherty opinion@kansan.com
most employers would probably pick the latter.
"We have a bank coming in and they won't settle for anything less than a 3.85," Jordan said. "But then we have a very competitive sales company who probably won't really look at GPA
Now this doesn't mean that being a good student isn't rewarded. Depending on the business, Jordan said grades could be a factor.
much at all."
Jordan said that leadership was one of the more important aspects a company looked at. A combination of internship success and extracurricular activities can be more than enough to move past academic weakness.
There is no reason to not get involved with at least one organization on this campus. With hundreds of campus organizations right at every student's fingertips, it's never been easier to get involved in something you enjoy.
Hiring agents love the fact that some people are well-rounded, and sticking with a group or organization for a period of time tells them a lot about the type of person you are.
The organizations range from the professional related, like Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity, to joining a group with similar interests like Scooter-Hawks. ScooterHawks is a club for students who love their scooters. If you
have interest in what's happening on campus, Student Senate may be for you. It's easy to find a club for everyone, no matter where your interests lie.
There are downsides to becoming more involved on campus. Sometimes students overextend themselves and wind up having less time for school or relaxation. That could leave the student with sleep problems or grade problems. And while grades aren't as important in the great scheme of things, some students even struggle to graduate.
All of those are problems, but the reward is worth the trouble. Missing out on some video game chill time is miniscule when compared with being happy at your job.
So remember, next time you're looking to take that afternoon nap, consider joining an organization on campus. Your future may depend on it.
Flaherty is a Lenexa senior in journalism.
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For more comments, go to www.kansan.com
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.
I didn't get an A on that test but I definitely took it in the a.
Free for All
Whoever draw the tough girls in the basketball review drew them with really, really saggy boobs.
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I think that Michael Jackson and Pee Wee Herman should date.
I broke my arm playing basketball and I don't even like basketball that much.
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Why do people leave old parking stickers on their windshields like it's a freaking military badge of honor to have eight of them? It's not that hard to take them off people.
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Eat my butt.
Hobby Lobby is my new hobby.
Ellsworth is one of the newest buildings here on campus and yet the elevators get stuck. Who came up with that one?
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Kansas State rocks.
You know you had a good weekend when you end up making out with Saferide.
If there is one thing that I hate more than George W. Bush it is KU's Enroll and Pay.
Screw sandwiches. I want a manwich.
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The large-font editorial is professional. It is suppose to be set in a larger font and larger column so that people actually notice it.
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To the girl wearing the K-State shirt I am going to beat the purple out of you.
My left boob is bigger than my right boob. Yes, that's normal.
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KANSAN
I am so cold that my nipples could cut glass.
Michelle Rombeck
editor
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Editorial Board Members
Kendall D' Lynzee Ford
Laura Francoviciglia Anna Gregory
Amy Hammontree Kelly Hollowell Teresa Lo
Mindy Osborne Grog Holmqist Ryan
Scarrow Elizabeth Willy Sarah Behunek Kevin
Flaherty Brandon Gay Zack Hemenway Alex
Hoffman Kevin Kampwirth Amy Kelly
Cameron Koelling Courtney Kuhen Brandi
Matheusen Travis Metcalf Mike Norris
Jonathan Reeder Erin Riffey Alea Smith
Karl Zimmerman