UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN editorials
Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Kansan editorial staff. Signed columns represent the views of
MARCH 20,1979
Fuel sources needed
It comes as no surprise to find that the Office of Technology Assessment has warned that the cost of importing petroleum could be crippling to the economy within two years.
And it is almost common knowledge that in order to meet American demand OPEC countries would have to double their petroleum production by the year 2000, a prospect that the assessment office claims is "technically doubtful."
What all of this means, again according to the office, is that this shortage of petroleum will "pose a serious threat to our continued reliance on the automobile as the predominant mode of personal transportation."
BUT YOU WOULDN'T know it from the actions of government and private industry.
The office has suggested several courses of action. One is to ration gasoline or to dramatically increase its price. But rationing would be a cumbersome process, ripe with the potential for inequities and mismanagement, while large price increases would only put more economic pressure on an already overburdened public.
However, it has already suggested another option, namely a government program designed to produce research into alternative automobile fuel sources and to provide incentives for private business to switch to those sources.
If there is not going to be enough petroleum to meet our gluttonous need for gasoline (and there isn't), and because there is little chance of changing the American dependence on the automobile, then government and industry must get to work on other solutions.
BUSINESS IS not known for turning its back on a good thing, or even a passable thing, and as long as there is petroleum available to turn into gasoline, automakers will continue to churn out cars requiring gasoline, whether that is beneficial to society or not. It's good business.
It's not only desirable. It's absolutely necessary.
So the government has to provide incentives for the private sector to change its ways. Considering their are 66 million cars in use today, a figure that should reach 90 million by 1991, incentives are badly needed.
BUT ONE of the kingpins of the automobile industry, General Motors, while acknowledging the accuracy of the report, has suggested that the problem be tackled through "the workings of the free market system." Obviously, General Motors didn't acquire its current position of power through any anti-capitalist talk.
But while the cooperation of private industry will be very necessary if fuel alternatives are to be discovered, it is entirely doubtful that a switch would be made by private industry without strong government incentives.
Attempt to avoid cliche goes down the drain
The *Achilles'* heel of many writers and others throughout the ages has been the use of the cliche—that trite word or phrase. The word is a last resort to tug the grip on a sentence.
**grammarians for years have etched in bronze the rule of avoiding the use of clutches, which like so much baggage, are a waste of space and should be left out.**
Not by any stretch of the imagination has the use of such jargon by the supposedly educated subsidied. All too often, in the use of clichés has fallen on deaf ears.
*n rest than no time, the legislature began to seek out information on the prevalent use of cliches, as a result, drew the line for good grammar, at least that
In a move to head off the problem of the cliche, members of the Oregon Legislature decided to clear the air of banning larson for a week recently.
Keeping the lid on lichen usage will be a tough task and it remains to be seen whether such words can be swept under the rus.
SAID THE committee report: "Many words and phrases are used so frequently that they have ceased to convey meaning of any kind."
A House ad hoc committee on the Suppression of Jargon issued a report on the "cliche syndrome" and the use of bureaucratic dialogue, and concluded often used words do not make a lick of sense to insult the intelligence of legislators.
No doubt, the action by the Oregon Legislature is a step forward to proper usage of grammar, but one wonders
whether we can close the gap between bureaucratic gobbledygook and simple English.
Before we rush headlong into any proposals or moratoriums against use of this jargon, one must realize grammarians face an unkill battle.
THE COLD FACTS are that in today's world, people don't want to rock the boat so they speak in a manner we have no earthly idea about. It seems to boil down to the fact that bureaucrats do not want words that may throw light on the subject.
Thus, "as of the buzzwords," as Philip Broughton, a U.S. Public Health Service service, calls them, are common and often have been used when we haven't the slightest understanding of.
Phrases such as "systemized logical projection"; "functional digital programming"; "compatible reciprocal options"; "total organizational time-phase"; and monitored time-phase" are sprinkled into program proposals throughout the land.
In order to correct the situation, teachers and grammarians may have to teach the students how to wipe on their students. By the same token, those of us who have received our education should be on the lookout for gobblegooky and avoid their use.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
(USPS 600-640) Published at the University of Kansas daily August through May and Monday through Thursday by *The University of Kansas Student Services Department* and held on Sundays paid at lawrence, Kansas 6904). Subscriptions be paid $15 for six months or $27 a year in Douglas County and $18 for six months or $3 a year outside the county. Student subscriptions are $2 a semester, passed through the student bank.
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Barry Massey Editorial Editor John Whitesend
Managing Editor Dick Seimel Mary Hoenke
Assistant Campus Editor Andrea Campbell Carol Hunter, David Link
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Rick Draper
Pier 1 eyesore sign of city's apathy
At Eighth and Massachusetts streets is a garage, deep trench, partly filled with murky water and surrounded by scattered piles of jagged mortar, bricks and shattered metal. About the lot is a four-foot wire mesh fence to keep the public off the uneven ground.
These are the grim reminders of a gas explosion that bleap a building containing the Pier 1 Imports store in December 777, killing two men who lived in an apartment above it. Much of the original debris is, but nothing has been done with the land.
And according to the landowner and city officials, nothing will be done very soon.
Jake
Meanwhile, the lot continues to collect trash thrown by the passing public, who take advantage of the city's only downtown garbage dump.
A S D AUMP, the lot serves well, collecting beer can, cans, pieces of paper, scraps of wood and miscellaneous trash. But as part of the aesthetic quality of the city, the lot is an ugly blemish. Something should be done soon, but city officials are taking a soft
Thompson
stand on the issue and the landowner, Dale Kearney, is no hurry to build.
Mike Wildgen, assistant city manager, recently said the city had no power to force building on the lot and could only write letters to the landowner encouraging action.
"There are no ordinances we can enforce because it's private property. There's no legal obligation to planning to build on it sometimes in the future and we're encouraging that,"
Considering that responsibility, the Pier I lot is a glaring example of the city's lack of effectiveness. They have not acted because they have not been required to.
City Commissioner Marnie Argersinger summed up city and public sentiment and offered a suggestion, saying, "It's one of the ugliest sites in it and town is right downtown." It may be hard to find cases where you just wish the city could go in and order something to be done or else
The city's wait-and-see posture is unacceptable. The lot has remained empty for more than a year and is now collecting trash. Surely, city officials do not want to be known for having one of the very few and perhaps the only city center dump.
It is time for city officials to push the land-
owner for preliminary building or take the
property.
HER SUGGESTION should be heeded by officials because Kearney recently said he would not begin construction until he had a definite plan with financial backing. Reportedly, he is in the process of negotiating with possible tenants for offices or a complex, but has no projected date for completion of construction, or even a date to begin.
threaten to improve the property ourselves."
So it could be months before anything changes at 745 and 747 Massachusetts. That would be in addition to the year that they added since the blast that created the blight.
The dark hole at Eighth and Massachusetts streets is a reminder of death, but its unchanging character demonstrates the lack of concern by city officials for the apology of a city official who is job to keep the city clean and their challenge is to attempt to further beautify it.
the lot and making it safe for passersed
traders. But they are disregarding their duty
as public officials to maintain the aesthetic
appearance of the city.
Kearney has had enough time to begin preliminary building. He owned the land that housed Pier 1 and, according to Douglas County deed records, became legal owner of the adjacent lot July 25, 1978. Obviously, he is protecting his financial interests and also is under no pressure from the city, which allows him further compacency.
CITY OFFICIALS claim they have fulfilled their legal obligation by cleaning up
One look at the Pier 1 lot shows they are not fulfilling that responsibility, or even making a mistake.
To the editor:
Kansan buried Rock Chalk coverage
One of the most tragic and most disheartening aspects of life is not being accepted as a person with the skills to accompany with an almost religious fervor. I say this because of the many disillusioned students at the University of Kansas that must be saying, "All is not fair in jour-
The University Daily Kansan is the medium through which the events that occur on this campus are publicized. However, it is a sad day when the tradition of displaying this book of this campus for years is hidden in the FIFTH page of our great newspaper.
After this betrayal I must believe that the words "Rock Chalk" are merely words in an incantation used by the Spirit Squand at our exciting football and basketball games. I have never been so shocked and dismayed by their performance, given the gigantic headline that it received.
At first I heard people say that the reporters on the staff were anti-Greek and that the treatment was to be expected; but I dismissed any such childish and archaic remarks. The only one is not one of the best collegiate papers in the nation because it allows personal biases.
The Kanaan should give equal space to Rock Chak in light of its importance in the mythology.
But even more frustrating and enigmatic were three absences: 1) the total deletion of the Beta Theta Pi and Pibeta Skit 2) the omittance of the best overall performance's 3) the absence of any photo pertaining to any skit performed by the competitors.
I am not complaining because of anything as tribute as "Our house didn't get enough money to buy the house we presented equally in the article that ALL students (this year happened to be all-Greek, in contrast to last year) were not given the due payment, I credit deserved in an overall estimation.
We have seen Darnell Valentine's picture so many times that one would tend to think that he is wanted by the law. I am not saying Val doesn't deserve it, but the fame of the Rock Chalk would be a thing. They would like to have fond memories of Rock Chalk, not bitter or dish恳然 ones.
The actors and producers gave up enormous chunks of time and made many personal sacrifices in order to represent their living groups and to uphold the Rock Chalk tradition. A lot of heart and sweat are combined in every performance.
UNIVERSITY DAILY letters KANSAN
compete, thereby assuring the high quality in this fine tradition. This year the audience was more than satisfied with the performances—Rock Chalk is a helfova bargain.
I hope this letter is taken in the spirit it was intended: to preserve the valour and tradition of our faith, to nurture the more important who are the fiber of that tradition. It would be a shame if the Kanas is compromising journalistic integrity in favor of prejudices. Say it ain't so.
Jeff Mount
Winfield sohpomore
Unskilled teachers irritating, ineffective
To the editor:
This is my second semester at K.U., although I have previously earned a bachelor's degree and have studied at several other colleges. In general, I am satisfied with the academic environment here, where my classmates, but I am problem that has developed, and may continue to develop, that causes me some frustration.
There are some courses in various departments that are being taught by people who are not qualified to be teaching high school level courses and certainly not college level courses. Some of them have not or will not have little or no teaching experience.
They may apply a great deal of effort and be sincerely interested in providing an adequate learning experience for their students, but their skills in doing so are
How would the community react to having its children in public schools taught by people without college degrees and without teacher certification? The parents of students at KU would also react quite unfavorably.
When students arrive on campus, they expect to be taught by a highly educated, high-quality teaching staff. They have a strong emphasis on this right being violated in some cases.
The academic status of a university is partly based on the credentials of the teaching staff. Students choose a university that offers courses in education the education they will receive.
I would venture to say that some unknown
percentage of students who are dropping out of school every semester could attribute some of their learning difficulties and frustrations to encounters with teaching assistants who are not really able to apply optimum teaching techniques.
I see two possible explanations, and I am sure that there are those who could provide others. One explanation blames members of the administration for the individual basis. The other explanation blames the educational system that has developed through the efforts of no one.
I must eliminate the first explanation. My own observations indicate that individuals in the administrative and teaching staffs often work with people who definitely have a full work load.
I believe that the problem lies in an evaluation environment that encourages us to multimultiple a satisfactory student-teacher ratio and the members of the teaching staff are trying to "make do" with the new curriculum.
There are no simple or expeditional solutions, but the problem does exist and will continue to worsen if measures are not taken. There is a very low education that we can expect at KU will suffer.
In submitting this letter, I hope to make other students more aware of the problem and encourage them to become concerned enough to press for its elimination.
Satanta special student
STATE U.
BY T. M. ASLA