4A
Tuesday, March 7, 1995
OPINION
UN I V E R S I T Y D A I L Y K A N S A N
VIEWPOINT
THE ISSUE: TERM LIMITS
Term limit's failure justified
A state constitutional amendment that would have instituted term limits, prohibiting Kansas House and Senate members from holding office for more than 12 consecutive years, justifiably failed to pass the Kansas House last week.
Not only was the proposed amendment which would have applied to current legislators full of loopholes, but the amendment's failure was also a step toward affirming the idea that term limits are a ridiculous and unnecessary concept.
One such loophole would have allowed lawmakers to dodge the limit if they could gather a designated number of petition signatures. If a legislator gathered enough signatures, then he or she could run for re-election despite reaching the term limit.
Furthermore, term limits would be counterpro
democracy.
The Kansas term-limits amendment would have eroded a fundamental right of the people:
ductive.
Proponents of the amendment claim that the present system breeds career politicians.
Keep in mind that good politicians would be affected by this amendment as well.
But term limits would take away a fundamental right of the people. Voters have the right to elect whomever they please.
Ultimately, term limits are already in effect — at the ballot box. If the public is unwilling to vote responsibly or campaign for decent politicians, then the results are deserved.
Term limits belittle the idea of democracy, and they would allow the people to shirk the responsibility for failing to vote.
SPENCER DUNCAN FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
THE ISSUE: MOTOR-VOTER BILL
New bill affects college voters
The Kansas House passed an important piece of legislation for college-aged voters. House Bill 2079 passed with an attached amendment that allows state colleges and universities to offer a permanent voter-registration site However, it is now up to each state institution to carry out this legislation.
This amendment was proposed by the Kansas Student Votes Coalition, a statewide lobbying group, and stems directly from the National Voter Registration Act. The Kansas Student Votes Coalition, represented at KU by J as o n Schreiner, Wakeeney freshman; David Stevens, Wichita junior; and Marc Wilson, Hiawatha senior; started lobbying the Kansas Legislature because they saw certain flaws with what most know as the "Motor Voter Bill."
Even though the Motor Voter Bill is great in concept, it often frowns upon college students. The Kansas Student Votes
The amendment to the bill would offer sites for voter registration at state colleges and universities
Coalition recognized that college students are very mobile and often move more than once a year. Most college students forget to reregister after every move and are therefore not eligible to vote.
In order to increase the number of college-aged voters and to influence general political awareness, the Kansas Student Votes Coalition proposed to have permanent voterregistration sites at every state institution. It succeeded in influencing the Legislature to include this stipulation.
What the University needs now is to implement this legislation so that students can reregister to vote when they enroll. With any luck, KU administrators will promote House Bill 2079 and an increase in student political awareness as well.
AMY TRAINER FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
KANSAN STAFF
Editors
STEPHEN MARTINO
Editor
DENISE NEIL
Managing editor
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
CATHERINE ELLSWORTH
Technology coordinator
Jeff MacNelly / CHICAGO TRIBUNE
News...Carlos Tejada
Planning...Mark Martin
Editorial...Matt Gowen
Associate Editorial...Heather LawRENZ
Campus...David Wilson
Colleen McCain
Sports...Gerry Fey
Associate Sports...Ashley Miller
Photo...Jarrett Lane
Private Photo...Kait Rites
Features...Nathan Olson
Design...Brian James
Freelance...Susan White
JENNIFER PERRIER
Business manager
MARK MASTRO
Retail sales manager
JAY STEINER
Sales and marketing adviser
even using his opposition as his campaign's cornerstone. Although John Nalbandian, who has said he supports it, was the top vote-getter, the other supporter of the amendment, Allen Levine, was the bottom vote-getter. Clearly, the amendment is the issue in this election.
Compton has the right to campaign any way he wishes. But waiting to see which way the political winds blow — instead of taking a stand or waiting until research he himself had requested has been completed — is opportunistic. Compton should realize that such maneuvers tend to be remembered in the voting booth on Election Day.
I was opposed to the city putting off the vote for this very reason. The fact that the new commission would be deciding the issue would inevitably make the amendment the single largest issue during the campaign. Doug Compton has borne out this theory.
That's why Compton's change of heart disturbs me but doesn't surprise me. More than likely, Compton has been shaken by the primary results and now wants to become a hero to the groups who oppose the amendment.
Carlos Tejada is a Lawrence senior in Journalism.
The Lawrence City Commission elections have turned dirty.
Business Staff
Incumbent city commissioner succumbs to hot-button issue
Ceremony changes usually take time
Campus mgr...Both Pots
Regional mgr...Chris Branaman
National mgr...Shelly Falewits
Coop mgr...Kelly Connelly
Special Sections mgr..Brigg Bloomquist
Production mgrs...JJ Cook
Kim Hyman
Marketing director...Mindy Blum
Promotions director...Justin Frosolone
Creative director...Dan Gier
Classified mgr...Lissa Kuieth
The dirt comes courtesy of Doug Compton, incumbent city commissioner and one of six candidates for the April election. After a less-than-spectacular performance in last week's primary, in which the well-financed Compton placed fourth behind two newcomers and incumbent John Nalbandian, Compton feels he needs to manipulate a hot-button issue, or he will lose his seat.
The editorial in the Friday, Feb. 3 Kansan regarding the lack of response from the Commencement Committee to the students' request for a commencement address is to be expected. An earlier suggestion by students to have the faculty wear academic garb at commencement exercises took just over a quarter of a century, 1899-1926, to carry out. Here is the story.
This election's major issue is whether the commission should amend the city's human relations ordinance to extend anti-discrimination protection to include sexual orientation. In essence, this would protect Lawrence citizens from being denied housing or employment because they are lesbian, gay, straight or bisexual. This is a reasonable law — one that would protect everybody, not just gays and lesbians, while providing exemptions for religious and other private organizations — and should be passed.
But regardless of how people feels about the issue, they should realize Doug Compton is manipulating it to ensure his own re-election. Thursday, Compton told The University Daily Kansan that he had decided he would vote no' to
STAFF
COLUMNIST
amending the city's human relations ordinance. Previously, he had sat on the fence on the issue and said he would wait until after the election before deciding. He also said he would wait until city staffers completed a study on the issue at his
request.
Now, after last week's numbers are in, has he suddenly used logic and intellect to come up with a rational decision? Probably not. More than likely, this decision is a last-ditch and morally bankrupt attempt to shore up his flagging campaign.
In January, the commission decided to postpone a vote on the issue until after the April 4 election. They hoped to avoid making a decision before the election and thus keep it from being the only election issue.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
This decision backfired. Three of the top six vote-getters were on record as opposing the amendment. One of those, Carl Burkhead, KU professor of engineering, is
In 1887, the graduating class decided to wear academic robes and caps at commencement. In 1899, the students asked that the faculty wear academic garb. Chancellor Snow vetoed the idea saying that "we would lay ourselves open to ridicule by the state. The majority of Kansans would have no sympathy for such a form." Chancellor Snow retired in 1900, and Frank Strong became chancellor. In 1908 Chancellor Strong and Vice Chancellor Carruth marched in the commencement procession in cap and gown for the first time. Strong retired in 1921, and Ernest Lindley was appointed chancellor. From
1899 until 1925 the students continued to request that the faculty wear academic costume. In 1926, finally, the faculty suited up. Inspection of the commencement programs for the past 50 years shows that changes have occurred in time. Until 1980, the ceremony began with an invocation and ended with a benediction — both were gone by 1892. The two officers who have always appeared are the chancellor and a member of the Board of Regents. The governor frequently participated but has been absent in the past four years. Beginning in 1989, representative of the Alumni Association has also greeted the assembly. The University has used the function to present its Distinguished Service Award to certain individuals as well as its outstanding-teaching awards.
One hopes that the students' request will receive the attention that common courtesy and serious
It might be useful for the students to give careful consideration to the form of the commencement ceremony. After all, the graduates and their families constitute, I'd guess, more than 90 percent of the audience.
consideration requires. "Ad Astra per Apera."
J. O. Maloney
Failing to understand causes failure in class
My previous calculus teacher spoke with a very heavy accent and was difficult to understand. I believe everyone in the class did poorly because of the lack of effective communication between the instructor and students. In speaking with my classmates after the semester, the only students who truly succeeded were those who had taken calculus somewhere else.
I am writing in response to the Kansan article about graduate teaching assistants.
I am aware of the effective use of GTAs in many departments, but the guidelines for selecting them need to be tightened if students are to truly learn what is being taught.
Toby O. Byrum
Prairie Village sophomore
Compton can't be trusted after mistreatment of Simply Equal
He was a smooth talker. He knew how much I needed him, so I let him get, away with looking me in the eye and saying, "I know how important this is to you, but I'm so unsure. I have so many questions. Right now, I just can't commit!" He had me right where he wanted me. And even
I know, I know - a lot of students are disappointed that the guy from Slackjaw didn't make it through the primary, but now the student vote can really make a difference.
STAFF COLUMNIST
though I knew he would dump me later, I held onto the tiny shred of hope that maybe, just maybe, he'd come through in the end.
What can supporters of Simply Equal do now? Go to the city commission meeting tonight at 6:35 p.m. at City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St., and demand that there be a public hearing before a decision is made on Simply Equal. Those of you who are not registered to vote, do so. This includes people in the residence halls. You can register to vote in Lawrence, too. Registration for the election will continue until March 20. Vote in the April 4 election for the two candidates who don't oppose Simply Equal: Allen Levine and John Nalbandian.
But Doug Compton not only didn't come through in the end for me and the rest of the supporters of Simply Equal, the coalition that
Don't let Doug Compton get away with what he's done.
requested that the words "sexual orientation" be added to the city's human relations ordinance — he screwed us over in the biggest way possible.
I wasn't surprised to hear that Compton had sucker-punched us. I had received one of those smarmy Dear-friend-please-vote-for-me letters from his campaign. The stationery it was printed on listed the members of Compton's steering committee, and on that list I found the leader of Simply Equal's opposition: the Rev. Leo Barlee, Jr.
I knew right then that when Compton said he was so painfully undecided about adding sexual orientation to the city human relations ordinance, he was only trying desperately to court the votes of supporters of both sides of the issue.
What does surprise me is that Compton isn't the least bit ashamed about opposing Simply Equal to get re-elected. Even worse, after promising the people of Lawrence that this issue would not be decided until the election was over, Compton now says he's going to try to force it to a vote as quickly as possible.
Or at least he was. Yesterday, Compton made yet another announcement in which he said he still did not support the Simply Equal amendment but would not call for a vote at tonight's commission meeting.
If that's not enough reason to vote against him, perhaps another question should be raised: What on earth are we doing with a land developer like Compton on the city commission in the first place? Could there possibly be any bigger conflict of interest? Let's face it: Doug Compton is a craven, spineless, vote-hungry liar. Not only did he lie to the supporters of Simply Equal, but he lied to its opponents as well.
Chris Hampton is a Lawrence graduate student in higher education.
HUBIE
By Grea Hardin