4A
Wednesday, March 1. 1995
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE ISSUE: SUA DAY ON THE HILL DECISION
Choosing bands part of the fun
The selection process for choosing the open-ing
for choosing the opening act to perform at Day On The Hill should include some input from the student body. The proposal this year for selecting the opening act is nothing short of a return to totalitarianism.
Last year, KJHK, the University radio station, held its annual Farmer's Ball—a battle-of-the-bands contest
—to select the opening act. Local bands competed at the Bottleneck, and the crowd voted for its favorite choice with its applause. The winning band performed as the opening act. It was democracy at its best.
This year, the live-music committee of SUA, the campus organization that sponsors Day On The Hill, has decided it wants more "creative control" in choosing the band. The committee has stripped the populous of its voice and has decided to choose the opening act on its own. They have decided that the old method has the possibility of choosing a ruckus or head-banging type of band that could incite the crowd — which is something that did not occur last
The live music committee of SUA has decided to eliminate the at-large vote for the opening act; now students cannot choose.
year. To combat this omnipresent problem of violence, the committee will research bands and choose a band that will perform in a safe and noncontroversial manner. This kind of reasoning is reminiscent of McCarthyism.
The committee contends that choosing the band through the Farmer's Ball does not afford them the time to do this "research," and liability is a concern. This is a valid point, but a weak one. The potential for violence is a concern whenever large groups of people congregate. Surely, in the interest of democracy, a compromise can be reached.
These excuses and this whole line of thought represent nothing more than an abuse of power. Day On The Hill should be a day for people to enjoy an eclectic gathering of bands. As it stands, it will simply be an opportunity for the livemusic committee to hear its favorite bands.
TIM MUIR FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
THE ISSUE: JAYHAWK FAN SUPPORT
Fan intensity should continue
Keep it up, Jayhawk fans.The crowd at Saturday's 'Hawks game against Mizzou was the loudest and most active crowd all season. Now Kansas sits atop the Big Eight once again, and it has the chance to win the title outright with a victory over Oklahoma State and Bryant "Big Country" Reeves Sunday.
And even though Roy's boys are playing like March Madness has already started, they will need an even more imposing crowd Sunday.
In spite of all the talk about KU fans cheering only during the good times, nothing could be further from the truth. The 'Hawks were down 18-6 early, but quick buckets and a dunk by Greg Ostertag put them within six, 18-12. They weren't shooting extraordinarily well, but fans were screaming like they had just gone on a 20-0 scoring run. Then what happened? They
If the Jayhawks and their fans keep the intensity level where it has been lately, the Big Eight title will belong to us.
went on a 18-6 scoring run and jumped to a 36-24 lead.
The roar was deafening. Fans were having trouble hearing people next to them. Arguably, Allen Field House was louder than it has been in three years.
Also, whoever started the clapping and stomping during the opposing players' free throws is a genius. It even threw off one of the best free-throw shooters in Missouri history, Paul O' Liney. He couldn't throw it in a lake Saturday.
Cameron Indoor has a mediocre Duke team to cheer for this year, so a case could be made for the field house as the toughest place in the nation to play.
Let's keep it that way this Sunday, and the Big Eight title will be the reward.
MATT GOWEN FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
KANSAN STAFF
Editors
STEPHEN MARTINO
Editor
DENISE NEIL
Managing editor
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
JENNIFER PERRIER
Business manager
MARK MASTRO
Retail sales manager
CATHERINE ELLSWORTH
Technology coordinator
News...Carlos Tejada
Planning...Mark Martin
Editorial...Matt Gowen
Associate Editorial...Heather Lawson
Campus...David Wilson
Colleen McCain
Sports...Gerry Fey
Associate Sports...Ashley Miller
Photo...Jarrett Lane
Features...Nathan Olson
Design...Brian James
Freelance...Suan White
Robert Taplev / KANSAN
Business Staff
Campus mgr ... Beth Peth
Regional mgr ... Chris Branham
National mgr ... Shelly Falevits
Coop mgr ... Kelly Connealy
Special Sections mgr ... Brigg Bloomquist
Production mgr ... JJ Cook
Kim Hyman
Marketing director ... Minnie Mulligan
Promotions director ... Justin Proloum
Creative director ... Dian Gler
Classified mgr ... Liaea Kulsek
Spring is almost here, and you know what that means — it's tour time.
Yes indeed, as you are reading this, groups of prospective generous alumni are wandering around campus, listening intently to the babblings of a friendly tour guide.
Here a building, there a building,
everywhere a building building (or a
building being built or a building
which should be bombed and
rebuilt.)
Ahh, Spring: a time of birds, sunshine and campus tours
So, to get your tour experience under your belt, here's my virtual, unofficial Jayhawk Boulevard tour. (To simulate bus exhaust, read this article inside your car with a banana in the tailpipe.)
"Hello, I'm your tour guide Joe Smiley, and we will be walking east to west, down the historic Jayhawk Boulevard. Walk this way, please!
(Future KUID numbers turn around and begin to walk backwards.)
"Here we have perhaps the most attractive building on campus, Marvin Hall, home to KU's School of Architecture and Urban Design.
"Over here is Snow Hall, and one of many KU bus stops."
(Hopeful Jayhawks don their Rock Chalk gas masks)
"No, we have no idea how we're going to get that crane out of there."
"Hoch, uh, Budig Auditorium is being reconstructed after it was hit by lightning."
A hand goes up.
STAFF COLUMNIST
"Yes? In the back
"Moving on, over here is Strong Hall, which was built backward. Appropriately enough, Strong Hall is home to the enrollment center.
"You will be happy to learn that our enrollment policy is currently being replaced by a much more logical, Completely Random Lottery
System.
"Ah, Strong Hall, the symbol of KU,
if you'll all just keep looking at Strong,
I'll tell you when to stop.
Ahhh...Strong Hall..built backward-
keep looking."
(A gasping, eventual sixth-year
senior frantically waves his arms.)
Some skeptics look around and gasp in confused horror.
"Oh, yeah, that's Wescoe Hall."
On, I am sorry. Yes it is safe to remove the gas masks.
"If that's all the questions, on behalf of the University of Kansas, I would like to — Yes, another question?"
Another hand is raised.
"No, Allen Field House is not on Jayhawk Boulevard. And please, stop salivating.
"No, Wescoe is not a parking garage, it's a hall where students attend classes.
"Yes. really.
"Moving along, we come to Bailey Hall, and another stop for the aging, belching, noxious chemical spewing machines we Javahwaks call buses."
(Soon-to-be frustrated enrollees breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth)
"And finally, the Kansas Union, the heart of the University. Burge Union, which we will not visit, is the appendix of the student body. Any questions? Yes?"
"Fraser Hall is the tall building over there. I'm supposed to advise those of you who are pregnant or have a heart condition — and are from Western Kansas — not to tour Fraser as you will get dizzy and pass out.
are interested in a tour of Watson, please use the ball of twine in your enrollment packages and read up on your classical mythology.
"Over there is Watson Library, if you
"I should point out 14th Street and the Oread neighborhood, which some of you may use as a toilet in your stay here."
"Once again, no, you cannot park inside Wescoe. Yes?"
"That there is a giant statue of Moses. Anything else? Yes?"
(Possible "Official Coors Light Party Animals" get excited.)
"For now."
David Day is a Wichita Junior in magazine journalism and English.
Those with power can't be trusted to share it
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The recent viewpoint from Lance Hamby and Chris Vine regarding affirmative action was rather interesting. Experience has taught me that those with power are seldom willing to share it, and as a Black male, my perspective has proven that to be true time and time again. I agree that affirmative action should not be necessary, and in the minds of some less enlightened individuals, it could promote racism. The problem with the gentlemen's thinking is that they are apparently unaware of life on the "unaffirmed" side of that fence. Unfortunately, as long as the so-called "white ruler class" denies opportunities for minorities, there will be a legal need to thwart that denial. It's a social problem with a temporary solution until people are educated.
as a whole have never received fair treatment. What Hamby and Vine appear to believe is that whites should be able to enjoy all of the advantages which their ancestors enjoyed, regardless of the effect it has on other people. It would be wonderful to believe that the schools, corporations and small businesses that participate in affirmative action would continue their practice of hiring minorities if it was abolished. But do you honestly believe that? It's rare to get an equal education in the ghetto, it's hard to just survive in poverty. The bottom line is that as long as a disproportionate number of minorities are discriminated against in so many ways in this country, the "white ruling class" is going to have to be a bit more flexible. If forcing the people in power to be fair is the only means 'which has been effective in this country with such a wicked history, what makes you think everything will be better without that
To date in this country, minorities
force?
Jason Coker
Parsons junior
No mistake, column misrepresents AIDS
Words can indeed hurt. My first reaction to the headline of John Martin's column on AIDS ("...isn't gay disease anymore") was that an editor had screwed up the facts. Then I discovered that Martin himself says the same thing.
I just want to point out that AIDS has never been a "gay disease." AIDS is caused by a virus that has never recognized sexual orientation, gender, race or any trait other than being human.
Even columns, opinions though they are, should not play fast and loose with the facts.
Rich Crank
Anschutz Science Library staff member
Mardi Gras spirit, Lent austerity no longer one
What a difference a Fat Tuesday makes.
Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Fasting and reverence for all those preparing for Easter.
Yesterday was "Fat Tuesday," or Mardi Gras (in French), the last day of the Carnival festivities, which began Jan. 6.
EDITORIAL EDITOR
Between these days lies one the greatest modern contradictions in the land.
The Fat Tuesday tradition came from the removal of all the "fat" from the ice box before the Lent season, a symbol of the last days of indulgence. And whether or not you were aware of
it, Lent traditionally is a time of abstinence. You know, abstaining from "sinful" behavior. Don't get me wrong; quite a few things classified as sinful can be fun. I seriously doubt, however, that any of the students on this campus, or any campus, who made the haul to "Nawlings" in the past weeks were indulging in a sea of booze and meat and partial nudity in order to cleanse their bodies and minds in preparation for Lent. After all, Carnival season doesn't stop on "Fat Tuesday" just because the people of New Orleans wanted a four-day weekend. It stops before Ash Wednesday.
As the Associated Press reported this week, the residents of ol' Dixie are getting a little perturbed at revelers who don't dress up, know nothing of the Mardi Gras traditions and generally just load up with tourist beads and slap down a few cold Hurricanes and beens before asking others to bare some skin. As a safeguard, the Bourbon Street Merchants Association is posting Mardi Gras guidelines on balconies and in clubs. Apparently, breast-baring still is OK, but "nudity below the waist, public sex acts, grabbing or groping people or public urination" are not. Not only are people completely completing out of control, but also many of them haven't a clue as to why.
Having said that, I must make a disclaimer.
I have made the pilgrimage to New Orleans to experience the pulsing zaniness, the day and night brew-haha that are Bourbon Street and the French Quarter. Not during Mardi Gras. No matter, because the night-clubs and restaurants are incredible all year. Dixieland jazz and blues are at every corner, as are jumalaya and crawfish in every black-and-white-checked eatery. The Hurricanes aren't bad either. But don't buy them from the bigger joints. They water 'em down and overcharge you.
Even though I've never been during Mardi Gras, however I don't regret it.
Because right now, groves of numb, hung-over Party Gras revelers are stumbling home to campuses and jobs all across America after stumbling through pools of barf, beer and pee and elbowing aside countless stumbling others, without a thought about fasting or austerity. I have nothing against thrill seekers in search of the ultimate party. But that's a lot of effort for an unclear reward, if you ask me. Besides, the need for recognition of traditions is minor compared to how touristy many participants look. And who wants to look like a tourist?
So, if you decide to go next year, at least bring a mask or costume. That way, you can take a stab at true participation.
And then one will remember who you are if you vomit on their shoes.
Matt Gowen is a Lawrence senior in journalism.
MIXED MEDIA
By Jack Ohman