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Wednesday, July 26, 1995
OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VIEWPOINT
THE ISSUE: AMERICAN JUSTICE
Death sentence is too easy
Jurors took only 2 1/2 hours Saturday to convict Susan Smith for the murders of her two children. But as Smith's sentencing hearing continues this week, jurors should think carefully about what ruling will be the most appropriate punishment.
The nine men and three women of the jury, who rejected a lesser verdict of involuntary manslaughter, should sentence Smith to life in prison.
Psychologists testified throughout her preliminary hearing that Smith has been battling depression. Her lawyers had feared that she would have jeopardized her defense, possibly requesting the death penalty if she took the stand.
The death penalty seems like a simple, quick solution to the horrors we associate with a mother killing her children. But this is no simple case.
Smith has a history of suicidal tendencies which stem from Smith being sexually abused by a family member and her father committing suicide. People's hatred of Smith's deception and criminal actions has subsided somewhat. Even the representative for Smith's family has sympathy for her.
Sentencing Susan Smith to life in prison would be more appropriate in this complex case involving a mother's mental state.
"I think it would take what has been a horrible tragedy and make it that much worse," representative Margaret Gregory said of the possible death sentence.
Whether the jury decides to show mercy toward Smith, to take into account the lives of the family or to view the murders as vicious acts, the sentence should be life imprisonment.
This sentence would show mercy. It would appease family members who want justice and those who want forgiveness.
But it also would make a depressed mother of two dead children contemplate her actions for as long as she lives.
JAMIE MUNN FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
THE ISSUE: PRISON CELL PROFITS
Manson needs no audience
One of the most famous examples of criminals who have become celebrities, Charles Manson, has entered a new realm of stardom: musician.
Manson has recorded a compact disc that is scheduled to be released next week. About 5,000 copies of the CD were produced.
The curiosity to hear what kind of music could come from his demented mind will be high, and all the copies will probably sell. But the people who purchase the CD will promote criminal behavior by rewarding it.
Mason is serving a life term for convincing his followers to kill actress Sharon Tate and six others in 1969. His album, "Commemoration," contains music Manson recorded between 1981 and 1985. The songs were taped in a small room above a chapel in the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, Calif.
Buying this criminal's new compact disc encourages the criminal behavior of profiting from famous murders.
Michael Moynihan, chairman of Manson's record company, White Devil Inc., said that he had no reservations about promoting the CD.
"There's no connection (with the murders). It's not our intent to capitalize on it," Moynihan said.
What other reason could there be to purchase the album?
The fact that it is Manson is the reason for purchasing the album, and the only redeeming quality about him is that he hasn't requested any royalties from the sales.
Those who purchase this album are succumbing to the marketing of a criminal mind.
Potential customers should remember why he was convicted instead of wondering what his singing voice is like.
These people also should not legitimize Manson's criminal personality by purchasing his album.
JAMIE MUNN FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
KANSAN STAFF
GERRY FEY
Editor
ASHLEY MILLER
Managing editor
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
CATHERINE ELLSWORTH
Technology coordinator
Editor
Editorial ... Jamie Munn
Campus ... Jenni Carlson
... Virginia Marghelm
Photo ... Jay Thornton
Design ... David Johnson
Graphics ... Noah Musser
Copy Chief ... Molinda Diaz
J. J.COOK
J.J. COOK
Business manager
MATT SHAW
Retail sales manager
JAY STEINER
Sales and marketing adviser
PAT BOYLE
Accountant
Campus mgr ...Stephanie Utley
Regional mgr ...Jody Groton
National mgr ...J.J. Cook
Special Sections mgr ...Stephanie Utley
Production mgr ...Anne Loeper
Marketing director ...Matt Shaw
Creative director ...Anne Laurenzo
Classified mgr ..Heather Valier
Rob Taplev / KANSAN
Swimsuit competition drowns American woman's true image
The United States is known as the land of the free and the brave. Obviously, the founding fathers never had to walk down stairs in high-heeled shoes and a swimsuit. There is nothing free about white pumps and Lyca.
But it does take a brave woman to do this in front of bright lights, a studio audience and television screens across the nation.
This is the epitome of America as suggested by the Miss America Pageant, which has included a swimsuit competition since its beginning in 1921. This year, the pageant's officials have elected to let the public decide the fate of the contestants' skimpy shuffle in front of the judges.
By calling a 1-900 number shown during the live Sept. 16 telecast, viewers will be able to vote to continue the swimsuit competition or to replace it with another, as of yet undisclosed, competition.
The call will cost viewers about 50 cents, and proceeds will go to a scholarship or charity.
Last year the pageant's organizers did away with high heels in the swimsuit competition. Contestants went barefoot instead.
Although this was more natural to how women swim in this country, it is still ironic that how someone looks in a bathing suit should determine whether a college woman should get a scholarship.
Being a woman in America is more than parading in various forms of undress for the enjoyment of others. More choices and rights for women today mean more responsibilities, more decisions and more expectations.
OPINION EDITOR
Today's American woman faces her role as career woman or mother as well as the pressure to conform to society's vision of beauty. She must conquer the oppression of a male-dominated society where her views sometimes are unappreciated by leaders. She faces challenges much like our founders; a need for freedom and expression.
Are a woman's curves more important to being American than the kind of career she has? To me, be able to manage a career is more important than breast or waist size.
Women are not meat. They are Americans.
tition or, finally, the "doing-the-laundry-while-cleaning the apartment-and-preparing-for-tomorrow's-job interview" division.
Fighting for one's ideals against the odds is American. Using your mind to achieve success is American. Choosing the lifestyle you want is American.
not a "Mrs." is skewed. Marriage was seen as women's ultimate achievement for years. Even for those who now believe that careers are important, why should marriage and motherhood be any less of an accomplishment? Managing a household and a family is a tremendous job for married women, much less the millions of single mothers in this country.
More basic, the status of the American woman as a "Miss" and
Although I don't expect the competition to change this year — there are too many lonely men who already eagerly use 1-900 numbers — it is a chance to review how we view women.
What about a "cramming-for-college-exams-while-fighting-with-adomineering-boyfriend" category, the "fixing-a-run-in-the-pantyhose while-fishing-for-dinner" compe-
Instead of the swimsuit competition, the pageant could begin a more realistic event such as the "dressing-a-child-while-making-breakfast-before-sending-the-other-kids-to-school-and-then-catching-the-train-to-work" category.
Stiletto heels and push-up swimsuits are not.
Jamie Munn is an Enid, Okla., graduate
student maturing in Journalism.
Should I get a radio call in show and spout platitudes about how things should be? Or should I go through the hellish campaign and election process only to try to change things in the face of all the opposition?
List of tidbits shows public is dissatisfied
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
In the end, I can't find just one topic to discuss. Eventually the ideas run out.
loses its appeal after a while. There are people out there who have made entire careers out of poking fun at President Clinton or Bob Dole.
Hot, isn't it? In an apartment without air conditioning, getting out of bed is enough activity to require a shower.
I can't imagine a more pathetic job. No matter how much I despise Politician X's views and policies, that person is just trying to do his or her job. And even if my ideas are better, what should I do?
Sure, I enjoy bashing Newt Gingrich as much as the next guy, but everything
Philip Montgomery
We are never satisfied with the weather. If it is cold outside, we want it hot. If it is hot, we want it cold.
I recently remembered the moment I ceased being a typical student and became a "townie." It was the end of my second summer here, and I began dreading the return of the hordes. When the fall arrives and thousands of people return to town, the impact is noticeable.
The winter will arrive amid complaints of cold, and we will dream of the heat. The heat is here now, but we have no use for it.
STAFF COLUMNIST
Does anyone ever get tired of insulting politicians?
I can imagine it as a 'bos science fiction movie poster: "The Crowds that Ate a Town! Nothing can prepare you for... The Student Body!" From political waves, weather currents and a student tsunami, it's easy to draw this conclusion; humanity is just plain dumb.
Bad picture of housing painted in the Kansan
Three of these four courses, Math 105, 106 and 365, present the same
Scheduling officer, element of mathematics
Math problems solved with class substitution
The return of the students brings lines, traffic jams and the Jayhawk Boulevard herds who shuffle from building to building, clogging the campus' main artery. The dazed freshmen and the bored seniors will be everywhere.
Being aware of the possible difficulties associated with enrolling in a preferred course is another way to increase the probability of scheduling this class. All three are open throughout the pre-enrollment period when seniors and most juniors are going through this process.
problem for students wanting to enroll in them. The department is not able to satisfy the demand for them. We do not have the same problem with Math 115, and hence this class is always open.
I know the problem that Falevits and her friend had are real and anxiety-producing for many students.
The difficulties encountered by her and many other students, however, probably can be eliminated if they remember certain facts when attempting to fulfill the second-level mathematics requirement.
My advice to students with a mathematics course still needed for graduation is to consider other course options available and plan ahead. Some students will still get caught, but maybe some will be able to avoid the problem that plagued Falevits and others.
First, Math 106 is just one of the four courses that can be used to fill that requirement. The others are Math 105, 115 and 365. All four of these have exactly the same mathematics prerequisite: a course equivalent to college algebra.
I would like to respond to the column by Shelly Falevits which appeared in the June 21 issue.
I am writing in reference to a July 19 article in which I was quoted concerning out-of-state resident assistants and their tuition status.
I don't believe the article represented what I said which is why I would like to expand on what housing has meant to me.
I feel that oftentimes the Kansan prints articles that paint an unpleasant picture of housing.
I gained self-confidence as an RA. I learned communication and problem-solving skills. And while I was an RA, I befriended the most important people in the world to me.
Isaac Bell is a Lawrence senior majoring in English.
I am 23 years old and have never lived off campus. If I had not enjoyed my time as an RA, this would not be so.
most importantly, I do not think I would have graduated from KU if it
weren't for my RA job.
It's not to say that the RA job isn't demanding and sometimes difficult. Anyone who lives where he or she works can attest to that.
I feel lucky to have been an RA. The job has defined much of who I am and how I will remember my college experience.
If I had it to do over again, in-state tuition or not, I would do it again without thinking twice.
In the future, please try to write about housing for what it is: people working as hard as they can to make students feel at home.
That is true of dining service employees, RAs, custodial and maintenance staff, and, yes, those who work in the housing department.
Spend some time with any of us and you will learn that.
Jennifer K. Douglas Fayetteville, Ark., graduate student
Emmie Hsu / KANSAN
How to submit letters and guest columns
Letters: Should be double spaced, typed and fewer than 200 words. Letters must include the authors signature, name, address and telephone number plus class and hometown if a University student. Faculty or staff must identify their positions.
Guest columns: Should be double spaced typed with fewer than 700 words. The writer must be willing to be photographed for the column to run.
All letter and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the absolute right edit, cut to length or out-right reject all submissions. For any questions, call Jamie Munn, editorial page editor, at 864-4810.