UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN editorials
Unsigned editors represent the opinion of the Kansan editor's staff. Signed columns represent the views of other editors.
Alternative fuel needed
The combination of a long, cold winter, a large university with a large energy demand and an interruptible contract with the company supplying natural gas used to run the university can mean only one thing—problems.
The University was able to fall back on its own reserve of fuel oil, but at most it could not get fuel.
That happened to the University of Kansas this winter when KU's natural gas was cut off by the Kansas Public Service Gas Company for a record 38
THE SITUATION this winter was bad, and the coming winter only promises more of the same if bad weather, inadequate natural gas supplies and high fuel costs hit again, as they may.
Combating the problem will take the combined efforts of many groups concerned with the University—the Kansas Board of Regents, the Kansas Legislature, and additional conservation efforts by the KU administration and students.
The Regents last week took a step in that direction when they approved the financing of a study of a wood-burning boiler for the University that could ease the natural gas shortage woes that plagued KU in recent years.
give its approval. Another study is already being conducted at a cost of about $125,000 into the feasibility of a proposed solid-waste-fueled steam plant for KU.
THE COST of the study is expected to be about $30,000 and would be conducted by an Overland Park consulting firm. But before the study can be conducted, the Legislature must
William Smith, designer of the boiler and a KU professor of electrical engineering, said the initial cost of the plant would be low—about $2 million —compared with the price of the solid-waste plant, which he estimated would cost from $10 to $15 million.
Also, a U.S. Department of Energy study conducted last summer in Hanford, Wash., found that pellets from wood waste could be burned successfully in coal-fired boilers without costly modifications to the boilers.
WHEREVER A wood-burning boiler or a solid-waste plant is built at the University depends on the outcome of the two studies. However, the Legislature first must approve funds for the study of the wood-burning plant. And both the Legislature and the Regents must continue to explore alternative energy supplies, especially at a time when there is an urge for both to cut back on capital improvement funds for state universities because of projected enrollment declines.
The Regents have done their part in expanding the possibilities of alternative energy sources. It is now time for the Legislature to follow the Regents' lead by approving the study of the wood-burning plant.
Sunflower Girls aren't 'super-hyped hucksters'
In the first place, we did not “induce” or “lure” recruits to sign with KU. Our job was to introduce the prospective players to the coaches, show them around the campus and answer any questions they had concerning the program or KU itself. Who would do this if there weren’t an organization such as ours?
During official visits, the recruits were assigned to "hosts" from the football team, and the hosts were able to take them to a fraternity if they so desired.
In addition to the hours we spent with the recruits, we had several other jobs that most people don't know about. We acted as hostesses at the Skywriters convention, the run-in between the players in the press box during basketball games serving refreshments to the press and worked at the KU Relays registering coaches, passing out refurbishings, running time sheets and various other odd jobs. We've done all of this on a purely voluntary basis. We enjoyed being what considered an important part of the KU athletic program.
As a member of the 1978-79 Sunflower Girls squad, I was not only pleased but very proud to represent the University of Kansas and its outstanding athletic program, and it considered me demeaning to be called huddled together out hawking the KU athletic program.
Being a Sunflower Girl is a lot of work, but most of all, a lot of fun. None of the girls on the squail or anyone involved with us consult what we did to be 'repellent' in any way.
Has anyone ever said anything good about the KU Sunflower Girls?
Secondly, being girls there were places, such as the locker room, where we couldn't take them personally, but after the games we took them down to the door of the locker room and they were able to go in by themselves. There they met with the coaches assigned to them and had a chance to talk with the players.
I think it's sad that people don't think our job was "beneficial" for KU, and I wish more people knew how much we really did accomplish.
Kerri Church Chanute junior
To the editor:
The Senate early last September approved in a 67 to 32 vote a constitutional amendment that would give the District of Columbia two senators and one or two representatives, depending on the outcome of the 1980 census.
In addition, the amendment would allow the district to propose and ratify constitutional amendments and to participate in federal elections. It provides rights that all other American citizens enjoy.
Already passed by the House, the bill now goes to the state legislatures for final ratification. It is an amendment that is long overdue. The state's governor should be caused without the elightiest delay.
To the editor:
On April 2 I was a member of a panel answering questions concerning nuclear power and the accident at Three Mile Island. In the Kansas's coverage of this meeting on April 3 you did not mention my views and I have subsequently been repeatedly embarrassed by identification with the anti-nuclear their pro-nuclear views. My views generally coincided with the vocal anti-nuclear members of the audience.
First, the amendment merits passage on constitutional grounds and second, the district's recent past in itself more than the district's current merits for better representation.
Several of the points that I made at the meeting that summarize my views are:
Nuke view askew in Kansan coverage
(3) A nuclear accident has the potential for catastrophic effects, magnitudes greater than accidents from power plants or nuclear energy facilities, and analogize the risks of driving your car to the potential effects of nuclear radiation as did radiation biopsies is inconceivable to me.
(1) It is not known what biological effects (cancer, mutation) low levels of radiation can cause. (2) The science had extensive discussion of this problem. To imply that there is no danger from low level radiation should be strongly emphasized, and thinking on the part of pro-nuclear advocates.
(2) Previous estimates of the chances of a nuclear accident were once in a million years or one such astronomically small chance. The likelihood that an island accident these risks are wrong and it is mandatory, in my opinion, that the whole risk be evaluated and phased out as soon as feasible.
Understandably to me, many individuals at the meeting were upset and distraught about the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island. The unresponsive and ivory towerish attitudes of the two radiation biophysicians only served to exacerbate these real con-
THE CONSTITUTION guarantees to every citizen the right to be represented in Congress. For most Americans, this right to represent has come to be an accepted of democracy.
Philip W. Hendrick
Director of Genetics Program
University of Kansas
Philip W. Hendrick
But for the more than 700,000 District of Columbia residents, mostly black, the high school civics book chapter on democracy and representative government has in reality become nothing more than a lesson in political theory.
But it has consistently failed to acknowledge the existence of human right's violations in its own backyard. Passage of a constitutional amendment would eliminate one of those violations.
D.C. deserves equal representation
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
District residents have been provided with one representative to Congress, but he is a non-voting member whose impact is minimal. Thus the voices of a group of people continue to go unheard and unanswered.
Unlike many of the other amendments that have come before Congress and the nation, the question this one raises is clear and straightforward. Does every citizen have the right to equal and fair representation, or the right to participate in national decisions?
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would destroy the federal district. The creators of the Constitution thought it was necessary for Congress to maintain exertion of its judicial power in order to benefit from any state's influence.
During the last few years, the United States has been rather vocal and critical of so-called human rights violations in the Soviet Union and elsewhere.
Some have opposed the D.C. amendment on the grounds that there were better ways of granting the district full voting rights. Of course, suggest that the district be made a state.
Others have suggested that the residential portion of the district be returned to Maryland, for purposes of representation. The district shall be sent to the citizens of the district and Maryland.
THE DISTRICT has not been a part of Maryland for more than 200 years. Since then, it has developed its own community and interests, which would be better represented by the district's own congressman. More importantly, the people in the district have to agree to any retrospection, and so far they have indicated no willingness to do so.
On voting, the district's performance in presidential elections has been well below the national average. Yet, political scientists have found a correlation between voter participation in elections and the sense of political efficacy an individual feels.
According to Gerald Pomper, a noted political scientist at Rutgers University, the more an individual thinks that his vote will be the greater the likelihood that he will vote.
WITH THIS FACT in mind, increased representation for the district may result in a greater feeling of political efficacy—than improving the low voter participation totals.
Ron Altman
Bret Miller
Editorial Editor John Whitesides
Editor Barry Massey
Business Manager Karen Wenderott
The region may have originally been designed to be a place for governmental bureaus, but nonetheless it has become an important area of taxation, thus merting better representation.
Managing Editor Direk Steimel
THERE WERE only 14,000 residents—most of whom were connected with the federal government and who returned to their home states for part of the year where they were represented. The large number of present district residents was not foreseen.
The answer, it seems, also is clear and straightforward.
Advertising Adviser Chuck Chowins
Retail Sales Manager
National Advertising Manager
part of the Founding Fathers. When the federal district was established as the nation's capital, there was no need to provide representation.
The denial of full voting rights to district residents was clearly an oversight on the
This is not a suitable suggestion because it
Second, the district's recent history seems to indicate that the district does indeed merit increased representation on several grounds.
They argue, that by giving the district more representation in Congress, the district's residents would be gaining the power to vote on state, i.e. the powers to tax and to bear arms.
The statistics indicate that the region has performed and is capable of performing the
Opponents also argue that the district's poor voting record in previous elections indicates a lack of interest and concern in their positions. If they should be given more representation* they should be given more representation*
General Manager Rick Musser
OPONENTS OF THE BILL, realizing that on a constitutional basis the district's residents do indeed deserve more government action, pick the first argument and assault the second.
Only seven states have fewer residents than the district's 700,000 but 11 pay less federal income tax and 10 had fewer men killed in Vietnam. In sum, the record speaks for itself. The district has more than paid its dues and deserves better representation.
MAX NEILY THEMEMORIES LISTER © 2019 MAX NEILY STORE
Support of death veto is irrational
To the editor:
The recent editorial and the correspond-ing, replies of approval the Kansan has printed supporting Gov. John Carlin's veto of the proposed legislation of the death penalty are irrational outcries of emotion and unreality.
But when faced with the cruel murders or a loved one through stabbing, shooting or killing, is there an uncrust form of murder? The probability of capital punishment is justifiable.
Life is a very precious commodity in our society as it has been throughout our history. Our prisons are full of hardened criminals who have little modiity and forfeited their right to human life. Should they be granted this right to life simply because it is the most "civilized" thing to do? Have they themselves surpassed the participation forever by their very actions?
It is time that Kansas citizens and their elected representatives, as civilized people, take on the responsibility and reinstate the death penalty so that it is the only responsible route to follow.
As for Carlin, he has missed a large portion of Kansans, his electorate, because he listened to his "conscience" rather than his "culture." He has not heard the people, by the people and for the people" less we forget. He, as an elected representative, should be well aware of that principle.
Every year, Americans pay millions of dollars in prison expenses. In Kansas state prisons, it costs approximately $9,000 each year to support each inmate—room, board, clothing and recreation, not to mention education and wages for guards and other officials.
It is easy to speak of human rights and moral responsibilities when one is detached
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN letters
This money is wasted on violent criminals that have a 10 percent chance at, best, of death or a fatal system. Also, at this time, it is possible to reach the sentence and be able to get out, "rehabilitated," on parole. I don't believe it is fair to criminals who have forged their right to life.
Rehabilitate me a victim and I'll agree to rehabilitate his murderer.
Ronda Richardsot
Lawrence junior
Kansan lacks logic in Carlin editorial
To the editor:
I'm at a total loss in trying to find the logic in the staff's editorial "Veto Shows Leadership." It is hard to believe that anyone, especially the staff of a paper as well-written as the Kansan, could turn a broken campaign promise, an out-and-out lie to be exact, into a sacrifice for moral beliefs.
To say that Carlin is a great governor for, and I quote, "acting on personal beliefs rather than on political considerations," is totally absurd. If he had stood up for his views, it would have been about losing votes, he never would have lied to the voters of Kansas in the first place.
The question in this issue is not whether you believe in the death penalty, but whether it is right for a politician to make the same decision in a public that he has no intention of keeping.
Randy Engle
Leavenworth freshman
Randy Engle
AAUP should shun inquiry of Crawford
To the editor:
I do not believe the KU Chapter of the American Association of University Professors should be involved in an investigation. I am confident Crawford at the university psychology department.
A complete investigation of the very same charges has been completed and is in the possession of Vice Chancellor Horowitz. In addition, the National Institutes of Health
are conducting an investigation of the very same charges.
I feel it is shocking that Professor Crawford is being "tried" over and over again for the same charges. An additional investigation by AAUP would be redundant and an unnecessary strain on University resources.
David. M. Quadagno
David M. Quadagni
Professor of phviology and cell biology
Apathetic absentees in humanities chided To the editor
I come to chastise and apologize. To chastise many of my colleagues in the humanities—particularly the foreign language departments and the natural sciences for not attending the College Assembly April 10.
I would have been interested in the reaction of "hard" scientists to the proposed B.S. in cognitive psychology, whether they should propose a proposal or not, and would certainly have welcomed the support of all my colleagues in the language departments, not just the students.
I apologize to those colleagues and students who did attend and supported me—and to those who were unable to attend (it is true that there are classes at 4 p.m. Tuesdays and other legitimate reasons for missing attendance) and for arranging actively in opposition to the proposed major which does not include a requirement for a foreign language.
In fact, it is to the students in the program that my apology should be extended, for I think it is the responsibility of a faculty member to argue constantly and cogently for the inclusion in all undergraduate programs of those elements that he or she sees as essential to a liberal arts education and to particular majors. Ultimately, when
we fail, it is the students who suffer and we present with my arguments, a majority of those present with my arguments.
It is noteworthy that at the same meeting, the report of the committee on Policy and Education Goals on its survey of departments regarding a council form of government for the assembly indicated both a lack of stable support and small but strong opposition.
Many of those who argue for maintaining the Assembly in order to prevent disenfranchisement were not at the assembly meeting. Many who argued that "people will come when there are substantive issues" were also not there. I submit that many proposals for new majors are substantive issues for a faculty of liberal arts and sciences.
One note of optimism: Seasoned observers pointed out that the vote (59 to 56 by the way; should I have requested a recount?) was split, not faculty versus students, but faculty and students against faculty. The argument led to the strongest arguments made against the proposal at the previous meeting were made by a student.
David A. Dinneen
Professor of linguistics and French and Italian
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