4A
Wednesday, March 20, 1996
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VIEWPOINT
Lack of insurance at KU escalates burden of stolen school property
This institution and its students are threatened by crime no more than any other large institution, yet policies regarding the replacement of stolen property are simply inefficient.
"Crimes of opportunity are a really big problem," said Sgt. Chris Keary of KU Police.
Crimes of opportunity are those in which items are stolen merely by the thief taking advantage of the given circumstances.
"No crime is impossible to solve, but these types are very difficult. All we can do is stress that people be aware of their surroundings, but some people are just in a mode where they think it won't happen to them," Keary said.
Problems surrounding recovery of property and apprehension of criminals are further complicated because the University of Kansas is not covered by theft insurance — or any other kind of insurance.
"The state does not purchase or provide any insurance for the University,
THE ISSUE:
Theft at KU
aside from malpractice insurance at the Med Center," said Karen Dutcher, KU associate general counsel. "If something is stolen, KU has to ask the Legislature for more money to cover the cost of theft. There is no casualty or liability."
Jerry Niebaum, executive director of the computer center, said that the center had to reallocate within its budget.
Niebum said that most robberies occurred when people had prior knowledge about what could be found in certain areas meaning that students usually are not involved.
Absent-minded professors and kleptomaniacs cause problems for any university.
Albeit, the absence of insurance exacerbates the situation. Not having insurance against theft in a university this size looks too much like Midwestern naivete.
TOM MOORE FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Jacque Vaughn deserves GTE Academic All-American award
Jacque Vaughn's basketball skills earned him a cover photo on a November issue of Sports Illustrated. However, Vaughn's academic skills also should have earned him a cover — perhaps on the KU catalog of classes. With a 3.7 grade point average in business administration, Vaughn was named a member of the GTE Academic All-American team last week.
Vaughn's ability to excel in academics, tough practices and game schedules make him a model for student athletes. Kansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams said that in the dictionary next to student-athlete should be a picture of Vaughn. Vaughn is the first Jayhawk to make the GTE team since David Magley in 1982. Jerod Haase was named to the GTE second team with a 3.6 GPA in business administration, the highest GPA on the second team.
Vaughn has added many awards to his résumé this season. He is a second team member of the Associated Press All-American team. He was also the Big Eight player of the year. Vaughn is someone who excels in many areas. His work ethic is something that is admired by his coaches and his teammates. It is also something that the student body should try and imitate.
THE ISSUE:
Sports and academics
Many students don't have the consuming time obligations that Vaughn has. Many are able to make a 3.0, but few have a 3.7 GPA. Time is something that seems to be in top demand, but there is very little to go around. This lack of time makes Vaughn's accomplishments that much more impressive. Struggling to make the grade should be the first thing that a student worries about. Vaughn manages to make the grade and win on the basketball court. This award is very deserving of someone who shows such obvious leadership skills.
DEBBIE THOMPSON FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Chan Lowe / FT. LAUDERDALE SUN-GENTINEL
Little girl hopes for better life with Pat Buchanan presidency
Dear President Pat Buchanan.
I knew anyhow, but they was around to rub it in. But I ain't going to be mean about those boys cuz they are helpin' me write this here letter.
I'm writing you on Easter this year cuz Jeffrey told me that the Easter Bunny is dead. I told him I wasn't gonna believe that, but he got Darryl and he told me the same thing.
Anyhow, if the Easter Bunny ain't around, I guess that you is the next best thing. Momma is always tellin' us that you is the answer to our problems and all that. Momma told us all what bad people those liberals was, and especially that big liberal with that wife Momma said was a nasty lady.
That bad man was president for a long time before you was picked by everybody to be in charge of our great and beautiful country. Momma said you should have been president before when I was real little, but that mean-looking man from Kansas got himself in the way or something. I don't understand what Momma said, but I know you is the best president I've ever known about.
I miss him lots, and if you could give him back I would want him back, but I know even you can't do
Daddy passed about a year ago. He was down in the border garden doing battle with the Mexkins. You say that Daddy died in the "Battle for America" cuz you wrote that in that letter you sent us when he herd he was dead. Momma cried lots after that but she was happy after all cuz she said he is dead for the best of reasons.
KANSAN STAFF
Ranger assault gun with all the stuff that goes with it. I maybe wanted a new doll, cuz the one I got is getin' all turn up by the boys and all. But I don't know, if I got one, I'd want the new one that gits big with the mirucal of life. She talks lots about her kids and her husband. Maybe with her I would get the Daddy doll, too. It's all handsum with the Daddy in work clothes and makin' money for the family. But I been thinkin' and I ain't wanting anything for me or myself. I only want a thing for my Momma.
She's been real unhappy for a little bit now. She ain't got no work now and we are having a terrible time with gettin' lots of heat and stuff for the rooms. Me and Darryl gets to share a bed and he is big and smelly like boys is. And Momma don't git home sometimes to be with us. I wished we could be warm and full of food all the time. Darryl, he goes to get stuff sometimes but mostly Momma makes stuff outta cans that don't taste like good food.
Anyhow, if Monma could git herself a new job or something I know we could get some good food and git Darryl outta my room with his smelly self.
I know you is gonna help us cuz Momma always talking about you bein' a good President. You is the president my Momma says was gonna take us back to the good ol' days.
nothin like that.
So that i'n gon't be my Easter present.
She says that's called a N-titelment or something and that it's a thing that is ungodly. And it ain't right. Momma says you no what I'm talking 'bout. But I want a presen cuz I'm full of prayer and national spirit for all them unborns that was lost in the liberal years. We lost hundreds of them. I know. And Momma says Easter is wishin for people to be reborned like Jesus was and so that's what I do, wish and pray.
By the way, Mr. President Buchanan, I ain't asking for no present cuz I expect one or nothing. Momma says it's bad to expect much of anything cuz nobody got anything coming to them anyhow.
Bye,
Rachel
Every day at school in the morning prayer, I wish for the unborns from the old days to find a way to Heaven. At the afternoon prayer I wish for all the unborns being killed by criminals today to be saved. I also in secret want those criminal killers to die. Is that okay to wish?
Momma says you say all them is bad like brown and yellow folks from over the border walls that try to take all the jobs. Momma says to get rid of them right now and even sooner like them welfare takers.
I was thinkin long on my present.
Darryl wants to ask for the new INS
John Martin is a Lawrence second-year law student.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dangers of alcoholism absent from column
HEATHER NIEHAUS
Business manager
KONAN HAUSER
Retail sales manager
JAY STEINER
Sales and marketing adviser
JUSTIN KNUPP
Technology coordinator
Business Staff
Campus mgr ... Karen Gorsch
Regional mgr ... Kelly Connelyss
Special Sections mgr ... Mark Oztakm
Production mgr ... Rachel Cahill
Marketing director ... Heather Valler
Public Relations dir ... Angie Adamson
Creative director ... Ed Kowaldai
Staff member ... Stacy Wong
Internship/oo-mp ... T.J. Clark
I agree with Carter Voekel that "not everybody is in need of counsel." However, there are thousands of people dying every year from alcoholism, let alone the driving accidents and other alcohol-related deaths that occur every year. Any discussion of alcoholism, or even it's mention, is absent from Voekel's column.
Yes, many people do drink responsibly on this campus as well as campuses across the country. There is, however, a large number of those who do not drink responsibly because they cannot — and it is not a matter of weakness nor that they have neither the inclination nor the desire to stop drinking when they see a problem. It is a matter of addiction, of the disease of alcoholism, of a situ-
STAFF COLUMNIST
ASHLEY MILLER
Editor
VIRGINIA MARGHEIM
Managing editor
ROBERT ALLEN
News editor
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
I tried to quit drinking when I was an undergraduate. I tried to not get drunk, but I kept making excuses why I had to get drunk. Then the next day all I did was feel guilty and ashamed for having gotten drunk. I never thought I was an alcoholic. I never thought that if I started drinking I would not be able to stop — that, in essence, I had to get drunk. It is an addiction, and for those of you who have been spared the disease, be thankful, but be careful as well.
Campus ... Joen Birk
... Philip Brownlee
Editorial ... Paul Todd
Associate editorial ... Craig Lang
Illustrator ... Michael
Sports ... Tom Erickson
Associate sports ... Bill Petulla
Photo ... Matt Flinker
Graphics ... Nosh Musser
Field positions ... Neavey
Wire ... Tara Treynay
Illustration ... Illusz Leaker
Editors
hol. I thought I needed alcohol to get by. For an alcoholic, a quick death is a blessing. I know because I just buried my father who died from this disease — after many years of suffering.
Dan
Today, my life has changed dramatically; I am learning to live life on life's terms. Though it may be hard at times, I know that it is because it is something I have tried to avoid for so long.
Today, I choose not to drink but I do not and cannot make this decision and carry it out by myself. I need help, and I need other people, and I have found both. Today, I am a recovering alcoholic and member of Alcoholics Anonymous at the age of 23, with almost two years of sobriety, and I am "simply just having a good time" — but without alcohol.
I come from a long line of alcohols, and the last thing I wanted was to become one myself — but here I am in recovery as a member of Alcohols Anonymous. I pray for those who are fighting this disease, thinking that they are alone and afraid of what their lives will become without alco-
ation where somebody is confronted with the obsession and the compulsion to drink.
Fort Washington, Md,
graduate student
junglion@falcon.cc.ukans.edu
Children can't enjoy wonders of youth today, like we could
We will never let them go to a movie or trick-or-treat or ride their bikes to the mall, either—it is just too crazy out there.
We won't let them be children.
No, I mean we can't let them.
What a shame
And so we will walk our children to the front door of the school and be right there at 3:15 p.m. to pick them up — so what if it is a rainy day and they want to splash in puddles all the way home like we were so freely allowed to do.
This is one of the few times I am glad I am not a child. I would hate to have to grow up wondering whether someone may bust into my kindergarten class and spray me and my little friends with bullets.
But my feeling of relief at being all grown up is fleeting: I have a four year old and am an educator. So I cann't imagine the horror the parents in Dublane, Scotland felt as they sprinted down the street to the neighbor
It is difficult as a teacher to go into these camps and ignore the dismal surroundings. How must the children feel?
Junior high would be a drag too, with kids as young as 11 being hauled away for carrying
Schools already are looking more like prisons, with barbed wires and metal detectors all around. And most inner-city schools have armed police officers on campus, and they are kept pretty busy.
I don't know about that. I don't think I want to pack a 38 with me along with my anthology of Shakespeare's plays.
STAFF COLUMNIST
But I guess that is what it comes down to: giving up some of our freedoms to feel safe.
weapons and committing unspeakable crimes.
In Los Angeles where I taught, we lost many children to senseless violence, and the children who survived remained jittery, unbalanced and sad.
To expect them to be able to learn a list of vocabulary words or memorize a theorem after the ordeal is crazy.
Teachers too, could be strapped, he said, so if unwanted people came into the classroom, teachers could just blow them away first.
What is going on? Why can't children be allowed to be children anymore?
hood school to see if their five year old still was alive after a crazed gunman massacred an entire class. I can't imagine being that teacher, who must have tried in vain to protect those kids before she lost her own life to the madman. And as that small community struggles to cope, building small altars with candles and teddy bears and flowers on the steps of the school entrance, it surely must be in agony.
I watched the CNN coverage following the tragedy in Scotland, and one pro-gun advocate suggested that school administrators be armed themselves, thus eliminating the unevenness of the fight with a potential killer
As a former teacher I have been in the unenviable position of having to help traumatized children deal with grief. It is not easy
Donna Davis is an Overland Park graduate student in education.
OUT FROM THE CRACKS
By Jeremy Patnoi