4A
Friday, February 24, 1994
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VIEWPOINT
THE ISSUE: HOUSING DELINQUENTS
Halls should enforce policies
The Department of Housing needs to crack down on juvenile behavior.
Recently, a KU freshman was written up five times for violating residence hall rules. He had been on probation since October for fighting with another Oliver Hall resident. He also had been written up for noise and alcohol violations. He also allegedly threatened a security monitor by saying, "If I get thrown out, it's gonna be your head. You're gonna die."
This seems to be a pattern. Last spring, a student in Templin was written up for having anti-homosexual propaganda on his door. He merely was sent to Oliver
What were the consequences of these actions? Nothing. The resident merely was told to move to Templin Hall or to appeal the decision.
Failure to punish juvenile behavior in residence halls lets students off the hook too easy, and may cause future trouble.
for his actions.
These students are not being punished for their reprehensible actions. How can the department justify not canceling the student's contract and sending him packing from the entire residence hall system?
But what about the victims of these student's actions? The department is not taking the safety of the violators' neighbors or other residents into account. Their needs have been totally ignored, and the department gets to keep its precious contract.
Perhaps the department is so desperate for occupants that rule violations don't really matter.
HEATHER LAWRENZ FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
THE ISSUE: GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANTS
Students deserve fluent GTAs
Students on college campuses are entitled to teachers they can understand.
It is enough to have to learn the concepts, ideas, theories and facts that teachers are trying to convey without having to learn broken English as well. Fundamental to the concept of teaching is the conveyance of ideas that can be understood.
Presently, international students who wish to become graduate teaching assistants must score 80 or better on a written and oral English proficiency test. According to Education Testing Services, which administers the tests, a score of 80 means that the applicant's English is "generally comprehensible but with frequent errors in pronunciation, grammar and choice of vocabulary."
Is it plausible to think that any applicant for a job would be hired if the employer knew that such an employee would make frequent errors and that these errors would directly affect his or her performance? The answer is definitely no. Yet, this is the scenario surrounding the hiring of some GTAs.
The fundamental concept of teaching is the conveyance of understandable ideas, and present tests may not ensure this.
The answer to this problem is not to proscribe any international student from becoming a GTA. Such a suggestion would greatly undermine all the contributions that these students make to colleges and universities.
Rather, the selection process needs to be changed. The test that is used is heavily flawed in that it does not consider accents. A heavy accent usually is the main problem in understanding nonnative English speakers. In addition to the existing tests, a committee of students should be formed that ultimately decides if a person applying to become a GTA is understandable.
Who better to judge if an applicant is comprehensible than the students themselves?
TIM MUIR FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
TAPLEY
Spitz spits in the wind
Robert Tapley / KANSAN
Spring is starting to blossom around us. Just today I spotted the Blue-Tipped Greater Orientation Guide — eternal harbinger of the vernal equinox — leading a pack of parents and prospective students about this fine campus.
Spring is a time for change
The coming season has its own attendant emotional currents that many people in the world choose to ride merrily along. Most of the time these currents cause us to breathe deeply and take the occasional moment to look around with a goofy smile on our faces. Other times we feel almost optimistic—the world is right and good and eventually this universal love must be brought to bear on all of us.
Then there are the people who feel that as the season changes so must the world. The weather brings them out, but they've always been there. Case in point: the political warm-up stretches for the big race next year. Or how about the earnest, civic-minded individuals who soon will spring up on campus like mushrooms with Bibles and loud voices?
All people, at least once in their lives, want to change the world. Eventually everyone wants someone else to change it. I call it a seasonal trend because when the weather
STAFF COLUMNIST
changes, the usual murmuring of "something's gotta be done" becomes a great outcry across the opinion polls of the land.
half before the presidential elections, newspapers already are carrying stories with headlines like "Dole takes No. 1 position in the polls early." People don't like the way the world is treating them, and they earnestly believe politician X will make things more to their liking.
Besides, it's always nicer to carry signs and hold outdoor rallies when the weather gets warmer.
A full year and a
I know for a fact that my own life could be better, and I have a strong suspicion your life could be better as well. So we need to find God (was God missing?), vote Republican — or Democrat or Libertarian, what's the difference — and drink Coca-Cola — or Pepsi or Royal Crown, what's the difference — while watching the No.1 network of the moment,
and everything will be just fine. Right?
OK, I haven't crawled on a limb lately, so here go! it can't gnna matter one bit. Neither Bill Clinton nor Newt Gingrich have the power to improve my existence, nor does this talk-show host or that infomercial gadget. The damndest thing is, I know what can make my life better, and I hate it.
Me.
Yeah, quite a shock to realize that when you get right down to it, you and only you will be the one to improve or ruin your life. Sure, the people and things around us can influence what we do and how we do it. But in the end, if we don't make a choice, it doesn't happen. It being whatever we hope for. Or fear.
So today, I'm going to improve something about my life. This thing is small, important to no one but myself, and I will enjoy it immensely.
I'm going to step outside, walk around in the sunlight, breathe cleanish air and listen to birds.
That's all the improvement I want for right now.
Mr. Dole, I'll get back to you tomorrow row.
Isaac Bell is a Lawrence junior in English.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
KU should be helpful during times of crisis
teachers. When I returned to school, I still had some troubles. One teacher never got the letter from the University and would not let me make up an in-class essay until she received some documentation. Another teacher received the letter and told me that I could not make up a test because it was against her policy. At the end of the semester, every student in her class could drop their lowest grade on a test, except me, just because I had to fly home for my father's funeral.
One evening last March I received a call at 8 o'clock from my mother. My father had died a sudden and unexpected death. By 6 o'clock the following morning I was on a plane to my home in Colorado. Fortunately, for me, my resident assistant talked to the University for me. The University, in turn, delivered a letter to all my teachers explaining my absences. There was no time for me to be responsible and talk to my
A University policy would eliminate stress, and measures could be taken so the policy wouldn't be abused. It would also make KU professors allow make-ups in emergency situations. After all, sometimes there are things more important than tests.
Your viewpoint on the University's policy regarding students' emergency absences leeks reasoning and sympathy. You state that it is a student's responsibility to talk to his teachers and that students should leave the University out of it. Maybe after hearing my story, you will change your minds.
Lottery would ruin basketball tradition
Brett Flood
I am tired of the "problems" surrounding the people who camp out for good basketball seats. Those camp out feel that it is a very important part of KU tradition.
Littleton, Colo., sophomore
As for the idea of a lottery, it is ridiculous. It offers the opportunity for students who are not KU fans to get a chance of a good seat and then scald them to KU fans who don't.
This system would also kill a great KU tradition. I see the players talk to the fans who camp out. I see Roy Williams come down and pass out donuts and shirts. This is a great thrill to the fans, and I can't believe they or the team would want to see this great tradition destroyed.
Ernest Leek Fever Vath junior
Mom would have stood up for her beliefs, turned and fought back
When I was 5, my parents divorced,
and mom had to support two daughters
on a part-time teacher's income.
While I was growing up, she worked
full time and went to school in the
evening to earn her master's degree.
Some would say that she was wrong in letting my sister and me be latch
ASSOC. EDIT.
EDITOR
me that it was all right for a woman to have a career and a family, if that was what she wanted.
key changes, but would disagree.
Mom never let a day go by without spending time with us. She would even come in after her classes and wake us up to play games with her.
She showed me how important it is for a woman to be a contributing member to society. Mom taught
The best of myself was given to me by my mother.
She was my teacher and my friend. Whatever I have learned in the classroom cannot be compared to what she taught me.
Last week, I discovered that I might not have taken her lessons to heart. Last week, I found out why mom taught me how to stand up for myself.
I was walking home along Jawhawk Boulevard, enjoying the day. Right in front of me were three guys, who were obviously wired about something. So I did what every self-respecting journalist would do — I eavesdropped.
They were quite upset about an event that had taken place in one of their classes. Apparently, a woman in that class said that she respected Hillary Clinton and supported what she was doing.
The Neandertal threesome was very much opposed to this view, but they weren't objecting to the woman's argument with facts. They were personally attacking her.
They were saying things like,
"Stupid bitch should keep her mouth shut." And other intelligent comments like, "This proves that women don't know shit."
I was astounded.
I wanted to confront them, but honestly I was scared to say anything. I knew I wouldn't say anything to change their minds.
But worse than that — I didn't want to try. I let them think that it was OK to personally attack someone for having a different opinion.
I'm not sure what is more upsetting — their actions or my reaction to them.
This incident made me think of my mom. She probably would have stopped all three of the guys and confronted them. She would have made them feel like the lowest form of life. Mom would have walked away from them with her head held high.
I know she would have wanted me to say something. I know she taught me how to stand up to such behavior. But somewhere between knowing what to do, and acting, there is a great divide.
Last week I was too scared to cross that divide.
Heather Lawrenz is a Wellsville senior in journalism.
KANSAN STAFF
Editors
News ... Carlos Tejada
Planning ... Mark Martin
Campus ... David Wilson
Editorial ... Colleen McCain
Editorial ... Matt Gowen
Sports ... Gerry Fey
Photo ... Jarrett Lane
Features ... Nathan Olson
Design ... Brian James
Wire ... Kate Barber
Freelance ... Susan White
Associate Editors
Associate editorial ... Heather Lawrenz
Associate sports ... Ashley Miller
Associate photo ... Paul Kotz
Copy Chiefs
Deedra Allison ... Jamie Munn
Joe O'Brien ... David Stuber
Clerks
Kim Crabtree ...
Designers
Ashley Schultz ...
Graphic Artists
Kelly Cannon ... Micah Laaker
Krista McGlohon ... Noah Musser
Reporters
Reporters
Robert Allan ... Jake Arnold
Jennil Carlson ... Tom Erickson
Luisa Flores ... Christoph Fuhrmans
Matt Hood ... Virginia Marghelm
Bob Mozyczdlowski ... Eduardo Molina
Sarah Morison ... Ian Ritter
Paul Todd ... Brian Vandervliet
Teresa Veazey
Copy Editors
Casey Barnes ...Tracy Broderick
Melinda Diaz ...Andrew Gliman
Matt Irwin ...Greg Johnson
Robbie Johnson ..Mary Beth Kruzak
Manny Lopez ..Charles Menifee
Shannon Newton ..Mary Rupert
Beatrice Springborn ..Amanda Traughber
Brian Whitham ..Josh Yancey
STEPHEN MARTINO
Editor
Photographers
Yumi Chikamori...Sean Croisler
Valerie Crow...Richard Devinki
Kathy Driscoll...Paulo Eakitch
Matt Flickner...Jerel Harris
Lisa Perry...Juliana Peter
Edmore Rodriguez...Jay Thonton
Hen Winder
Business Staff
DENISE NEIL Managing editor
Business Staff
Campus manager...Beth Pols
Regional manager...Chris Branaman
National manager...Shelly Falevits
Co-op manager...Kelly Connelyal
Special sections manager...Brigg Bloomquist
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Classified assistant...Nancy Euston
Zone Managers
Heather Bames...Mickey Burch
Meredith Henning...Matt Shaw
Stephanie Utley
Retail Account Executives
Kim Tidwell...Rachel Cahill
Cady Bush...Laura Frost
Dan Thompson...Beth Cahill
Konan Hauser...Irene Prifultsky
Anne Laurenzo...Jennifer Karkela
Charlotte Skelton...John Dohrman
Troy Sauer...Craig Hover
Carrie Sgariat...Mark Cohen
T. J. Clark...Jennifer Carter
Ken Wilard...
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Adam Ward ...Krista Nye
Kim Windt...Jason Wozniak
Wesley Stinson...
Regional Account Executive
Valerie Kelly ...Brian Roeder
Tom Dulac ...Dan Kopec
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Rachel Bloch ...Tom Bul
Karen Gersch ...Pacla Thomas
Mark Thomas ...Ulvye Emirade
Debbie Greenfield ...Angle Gunther
Jody Groton ...Heidi LaBash
Cary Bresloff ...Norm Bilow
Creative Staff
Megan Thome ...Tom Humphrey
Jeff Haugen ...Matt Spett
Mike Higgins ...Tomoko Tsugane
Brian Platt ...Kara Meysenberg
Nicole Morgan ...Tom Lienenger
TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser
CATHERINE ELLSWORTH Technology coordinator
JAYSTEINER Sales and marketing adviser
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PAT BOYLE Business coordinator
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